The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has closed 19 unlawful liquefied petroleum gas and Category D cooking gas outlets in Delta State.
Operators of Category D LPG refill gas from authorised facilities for consumers to pick up from their locations.
This was revealed to reporters in Warri on Tuesday by Victor Ohwodiasa, the NMDPRA Coordinator in Delta, who stated that “the illegal petrol outlets were sealed within the past two weeks.”
He said that the stores in Warri, Ogwashi-Ukwu, and Orerokpe, as well as other nearby locations, had been closed.
“The illegal petrol outlets were closed for offences ranging from lack of prerequisite approvals to unsafe locations,” Ohwodiasa clarified.
“During the operation, the authorities identified about 28 illegal outlets.
“Due to their incorrect location, we attempted to determine if they could be regularised. In Ogwashi-Ukwu, the outlet that was sealed was a five-metric-ton refilling plant that was built alongside the road, near high-tension cables.

“According to the authority’s assessment of the area, it was not approved and was incorrectly situated on a right of way. A relocation order was issued right away, and it was sealed. Other criminals were involved in what is known as “decanting,” which is the process of moving gas from one cylinder to another. It is strictly forbidden to do this.”
He stated that “bottle swapping,” in which clients trade their empty cylinders for filled ones, is the proper procedure.
“The goal of the exercise is to ensure small-scale gas business owners operate in a safe and secure environment, not to irritate them,” the NMDPRA coordinator emphasised.
When Category D LPG operators wanted to operate illegally on their premises, he advised landlords not to provide the room.
According to him, “the objective is to prevent possible fire outbreaks that could endanger lives and property.”
Ohwodiasa went on, “NMDPRA is dedicated to making sure that property and lives are sufficiently protected.
“Consider someone keeping cooking gas close to a welding shop or where food vendors are roasting corn or frying bean cakes. In such a situation, a gas leak would have disastrous effects.
“It is our responsibility to make sure an illegal operator does not put himself or others in danger by operating an unapproved facility if he does not value his own life.”
He promised that any infractions would result in legal repercussions and that the regulatory body would continue its enforcement activities throughout the state.
Additionally, he threatened to turn over criminals to security services for punishment if they refused to move their facilities.
“Help us to serve you better,” the coordinator said, urging the public to report anyone involved in unlawful gas transfers to the NMDPRA for swift action.
Noting that the authority hosts yearly stakeholder engagement meetings with gas plant owners and Category D operators, Ohwodiasa further promised that the regulatory body would keep raising awareness among operators.
He went on to say that because cooking gas is volatile, the regulatory body also conducts public awareness programmes on television and radio to inform people on how to handle it safely.
The coordinator thanked Ahmed Farouk, the Chief Executive of NMDPRA, for his ongoing assistance with the state’s regulatory activities.