Enforce gas station siting safety rules, Reps charge agencies

The House of Representatives on Wednesday called on relevant government agencies to tighten enforcement of safety regulations governing the siting of gas filling stations and retail outlets, amid growing concern over recurring explosions in residential areas.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Adesola Adedayo, who represents Apapa Federal Constituency of Lagos State, during plenary.

Moving the motion, Adedayo drew attention to a recent gas explosion in his constituency, describing it as another example of the dangers posed by poorly regulated facilities.

He expressed sadness over the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, May 5, 2026, along Adeleye Street in Apapa, Lagos State.

According to him, the explosion happened at a site where construction activities were ongoing behind two shops, causing widespread destruction and injuries.

The incident, he said, led to “extensive damage to nearby structures, huge financial and material losses and serious injury of varying degrees to five individuals, including a student who was on his way to school.”

Adedayo commended the immediate response of residents and emergency workers in limiting the impact of the explosion.

He praised “the swift response of the residents of the neighbourhood and State Fire Service personnel to mitigate the disaster by conveying the victims to Gbagada General Hospital and other nearby health facilities for prompt medical attention and treatment.”

Despite the intervention, the lawmaker said the frequency of such incidents has become a source of worry, particularly in densely populated urban communities.

He expressed concern “over the recurring incidence of gas explosions in such high-density, low-income residential areas and the huge losses of lives and properties.”

Following deliberations, the House mandated regulatory authorities responsible for approving and monitoring gas facilities to strictly enforce existing rules on location and safety standards.

Lawmakers also directed the National Emergency Management Agency and other relevant bodies to provide immediate relief to victims affected by the Apapa explosion.

Gas explosions have become a recurring safety concern in Nigeria’s major cities, particularly in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, where rapid urbanisation has led to the proliferation of gas retail outlets within residential neighbourhoods.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas, widely used for cooking due to its relative affordability and cleaner-burning properties compared to kerosene and firewood, has seen a surge in demand over the past decade. This growth has encouraged the rapid expansion of gas plants and mini retail outlets, often without strict adherence to safety and zoning regulations.

Industry guidelines stipulate minimum distances between gas facilities and residential buildings, schools, and markets. However, weak enforcement, overlapping regulatory responsibilities, and, in some cases, illegal conversions of residential or commercial spaces into gas outlets have undermined compliance.

Past incidents have been linked to factors such as poor handling of gas cylinders, substandard equipment, inadequate staff training, and lack of routine inspections.

In densely populated areas, the impact of such explosions is often severe, with fires spreading quickly and emergency access limited by narrow roads and congestion.

Regulatory oversight is shared among multiple agencies, including standards and safety bodies at federal and state levels, a structure that critics say has contributed to gaps in enforcement and accountability.

Emergency response capacity has improved in some states, particularly with investments in fire services and disaster management agencies, but response times and coordination challenges remain issues in many parts of the country.

The House’s resolution reflects growing pressure on authorities to address these systemic weaknesses by enforcing stricter compliance with siting regulations, improving inspection regimes, and strengthening public awareness on safe handling of gas products.

For many stakeholders, the call for enforcement goes beyond reacting to individual incidents, pointing instead to the need for a more coordinated and preventive approach to urban safety as Nigeria’s cities continue to expand.