The Ogun State House of Assembly, through its Committee on Environment, has called on the management of Eco Gas Plant located in Mubarak Estate, Akute Berger, Ifo Local Government Area, to ensure full compliance with safety regulations and make all relevant documents and approvals available to the host community.
The call came during an oversight visit by the Committee following a petition from the Community Development Association (CDA) raising concerns over the safety of situating a gas facility within a densely populated residential area.
Leading the delegation, Vice Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Dickson Awolaja, emphasized the need for transparency and accountability.
“We expect the company to carry the community along by sharing safety documents and approvals. It’s important that everyone is on the same page regarding safety to avoid disaster,” he said.
Other members of the delegation included Hon. Oluseun Adesanya, Hon. Adegoke Adeyanju, and Hon. Olakunle Sobunkola, who also assessed the site and engaged with both the management of Eco Gas and the community leaders.
Hon. Awolaja noted that while the Committee was satisfied with some of the measures put in place, continuous engagement with the community remained essential.
“There must be a balance between investment and public safety. Both parties need to work together to maintain peace and ensure proper monitoring,” he added.
Backing the call for dialogue, Hon. Sobunkola urged the CDA to give the company a fair chance, stating, “From what we saw and the explanation from the management, the safety precautions seem satisfactory. We advise the community to review the documents shared and verify the claims before drawing final conclusions.”
In a similar tone, Hon. Adesanya praised the CDA for taking proactive steps. “Your vigilance is commendable. We encourage ongoing communication and peaceful coexistence between the gas plant operators and the residents,” he said.
Responding to the lawmakers, the Chief Executive Officer of Eco Gas, Chief Sina Luwoye, said the company had already taken further steps to address concerns raised during previous engagements, including the reduction of the gas tank capacity from 20 metric tonnes to 10 metric tonnes, which would now be buried underground in accordance with regulatory standards.
“Safety remains our number one priority. We have had NMDPRA officials inspect the site as recently as yesterday, and more improvements are underway. An automatic emergency shut-off system will be installed at the gate, and a pedestrian bridge will serve as an emergency exit route,” he stated.
He also noted that the plant would undergo routine inspections by the National Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the State Fire Service, adding that plant workers would receive regular safety training.
However, the Chairman of the host CDA, Dr. Olupomi Ajayi, acknowledged the modification in tank size but maintained that serious concerns remained.
“We appreciate the reduction in size and effort to bury the tank, but the location of the plant in a crowded neighborhood, the limited space, absence of an emergency escape route, and lack of visible approvals from DPR and State Urban Planning Authority are still major red flags,” he said.
