Posted by Samuel on Sat 19th Jul, 2025 - tori.ng
Obianyi, who spoke at the plenary, said the primary responsibility of the government is to protect the lives and property of its citizens.
Lewis Obianyi, the member representing Ukwa East State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, has introduced a motion calling on the state government to regulate and prohibit the establishment of filling stations within residential and market areas.
Obianyi, who spoke at the plenary, said the primary responsibility of the government is to protect the lives and property of its citizens.
He condemned the indiscriminate sitting of filling stations to close residential homes, markets, schools, and places of public gathering, saying that they posed grave danger to public safety in the event of an explosion.
He pointed out that petroleum products are highly inflammable and that accidents involving filling stations have in the past resulted in loss of lives, destruction of properties and permanent disability, alleging that several filling stations in various parts of Abia State operate without adequate environmental and fire safety measures.
Obinayi further said that some petrol stations in Abia are presently situated less than the regulatory minimum distance from homes and public spaces, in violation of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) guidelines and the environmental protection law of Nigeria.
“If immediate steps are not taken to stop this trend, our people will continue to live under constant threat of fire explosions, pollution, and other health risks”, he said.
He prayed the House to urge the State Ministry of Environment to place a moratorium on the approval of new fuel stations in residential and market areas and to review the existing ones, among other prayers.
The Speaker of the House, Emmanuel Emeruwa, after listening to his colleagues’ contributions on the matter, granted all the prayers and also encouraged Lewis Obianyi to find a way to present the motion as a bill.