The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Warri Zonal Office, on Tuesday, sealed and arrested the operator of an illegal gas outlet in Warri metropolis, Delta State.
Punch gathered that the unnamed illegal gas outlet is located inside a residential building at Lower axis, Warri South Local Government Area.
Officials of the regulatory authority apprehended the suspect and instantly handed him over to the Nigeria Police for immediate prosecution after he was found to have violated the seal earlier placed on his facility last Thursday by the surveillance team.
He said, “In a bid to rid off illegal operators in the Oil and Gas, our surveillance activities revealed that there was a gas dispensing outlet located in a residential building.
“We sealed the facility and asked the operator to relocate to a convenient place and come forward to obtain his license.”
The NMDPRA Coordinator in Delta State, Mr Victor Ohwodiasa, who led the surveillance operation on Tuesday, told journalists that the suspect operated an unlicensed business which was also located in a residential building.
He spoke further, “Before one venture into business, you carry out feasibility studies, know the various levels of approvals to secure and have the business running, so once they come, we give them the necessary guidance.
“Our fee is very small, our emphasis is not on the fee but on the safe operations. We handle very volatile products, once there is any heat source, the next is explosion.
“So, our major concern is the safe operations of those facilities. Once, they come, we give them the necessary guidance.”
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