Against the indiscriminate Construction of Fuel stations by Salaam Rasak O.
More than any other time in the past, the government should do more to repel indiscriminate erection of petrol and gas stations in the society
Unarguably, the overwhelming increase of the construction of petrol and gas stations in illegal and unwarranted locations are phenomena not restricted to a particular state or community. It is safe to say that it is a national malaise.
It is all the more saddening that this social abnormality has continued without due admonition. There is a compelling need for a change of attitudinal disposition in light of overcoming it. More unfortunately, the erection of fuel stations in non-legalized areas have led to the untimely death of innocent souls whose houses are within the station. This calls for a great worry.
Worrisome however is that, the government regulation that stations should be located at a minimum of 500 ft. from any public institution such as schools, churches, public libraries, auditoriums, hospitals, public playgrounds, etc, is barely heeded, rather flagrantly abused. This is wrong.
That human lives and property are uncherished in our clime is indubitable. 'In Lagos, seven deaths occurred in two separate incidents on January 16. A leak at a gas plant on CMD Road, near Magodo Estate, claimed two lives. Five others were killed in the Badagry area. Besides the dead, eight persons suffered burns of varying degrees. The story is the same in other clime. 'In Imo State, four people were burnt to death at Orji, a suburb of Owerri on November 27 last year from a gas explosion at a petrol station; just as five houses were razed in the state capital on January 18, at different locations.' These are preventable violent accidents.
As a step to stemming the tide, the federal government should sternly implement the already existing laws while new laws that would promote orderly erection and arrangement of fuel stations should be introduced. Shall we continue to flaunt the death of innocent souls and keep maintaining we are an emerging state? No. Therefore, we need prioritize the soul of every Nigerian as it is done in developed clime. American cherished every citizen that she engaged in pre-trial pardon of seven people of Iranian descent in exchange for Iran freed four imprisoned Americans in January 2016. This is the way for a nation in all ramifications. Against this backdrop, it is very emphatic that we put a stop to indiscriminate construction of fuel stations.
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It is all the more saddening that this social abnormality has continued without due admonition. There is a compelling need for a change of attitudinal disposition in light of overcoming it. More unfortunately, the erection of fuel stations in non-legalized areas have led to the untimely death of innocent souls whose houses are within the station. This calls for a great worry.