Kaduna State Governor Nasiru El-Rufai has urged resident to report any gas station cited in residential areas and ordered the closure of all gas refill stations located within residential areas in the state.
The governor gave the order on Monday after he had visited the scene of Saturday’s gas explosion at Sabon Tasha, Kaduna .
While noting that gas refill stations should relocate to industrial layouts, he described the sad event as most unfortunate, promising to relocate and give them lands.
“It is further proof and evidence that this is high risk activity that should not be allowed to be located in residential areas.
“We will relocate them; we will give them land in industrial areas where adequate precautions to prevent things like this will be put in place.
“But for now, we have to get all these gas refilling plants within the metropolis and towns relocated. We are mapping all of them. For now, they are shut down,” he stressed.
The governor advised residents to report anyone found refilling gas within residential areas because they might be victims of such sad event.
“You should report to Kaduna Environmental Protection Agency (KASUPDA) so that measures can be taken to chase them out.
“While the person might be doing it for money, but you will be the victims. So report to KASUPDA or KEPA or write directly to me. It is my duty to ensure that everyone is safe,“ he said.
The governor, who condoled with the affected family of Prof. Simon Mallam, erstwhile Chairman of the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission who died in the incident, during his visit to other victims receiving treatment at St Gerald hospital, Kaduna prayed for the souls of those who died and quick recovery of those in hospitals.
