Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Nigeria’s gas industry is set for an aggressive nationwide enforcement campaign as the Federal Government moves to shut down illegal and unsafe Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, facilities following the recent fatal gas explosion in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the tragedy as “needless and entirely preventable,” insisting that the Federal Government will no longer tolerate operators who endanger lives through illegal and unsafe gas practices.
“It is unacceptable for anyone to endanger lives by operating illegal gas facilities or engaging in unsafe practices,” the Minister said in a statement.
He confirmed that preliminary findings showed the blast happened when a gas tanker was offloading LPG into a 2.5MT illegal skid sited within a densely populated neighbourhood.
The Ibadan explosion destroyed homes, shops and a church, leaving multiple casualties. Ekpo said the incident was a direct consequence of negligence and unregulated operations.
“Gas is safe when handled responsibly. It is negligence, the use of substandard equipment, and unlawful operations that lead to tragedies such as this,” he stressed.
Ekpo further said that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, has opened a full-scale investigation, and urged affected residents to support investigators so the root cause can be independently established and future incidents averted.
He issued his strongest warning yet to operators running unlicensed LPG outlets nationwide.
“Let me be clear: illegal operators must immediately vacate the sector,” he said.
“The Federal Government will not hesitate to shut down unsafe sites, prosecute offenders, and enforce all safety regulations to protect lives, property, and public confidence in Nigeria’s gas sector.”
The Ibadan incident exposes ongoing lapses in the proliferation of roadside and unapproved LPG stations; many of which operate with poor safety buffers and questionable equipment.
The Minister also condoled with families affected by the disaster and reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to ensuring safer LPG expansion as part of Nigeria’s energy transition drive.
“My heartfelt condolences go to the Government and people of Oyo State, especially the families who lost loved ones and those who sustained injuries,” Ekpo said, calling the incident a wake-up call for strict compliance across the sector.
