The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has urged gas plants to reject expired or substandard LPG cylinders when brought for refilling.
The organisation said many Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), also known as cooking gas cylinders should be rejected at refilling points or destroyed to forestall explosions and injuries.
Mr Williams Okpeh, Head of LPG, SON, made the appeal at a workshop for journalists on Thursday in Lagos.
The workshop had as its theme: “Securing Nigeria through Standardisation.”
He said this would go a long way in preventing incidents of cooking gas explosions across the country with the attendant injuries, loss of lives and property.
Okpeh, represented by Mr Edward Akinwale, Principal Standard Engineer, SON, noted that the average lifespan of a cooking gas cylinder was 15 years with re-qualification of the cylinder every five years.
He said unfortunately, some persons still smuggled used cylinders into the country, refurbished and sold them as brand new to unsuspecting Nigerians.
According to him, some also embark on local fabrication of cylinders without following the prerequisite safety standards and requirements.
“In some countries, cooking gas cylinders are owned by distributors who re-qualify them from time to time but here (Nigeria), they are owned by individuals who find it difficult to replace them.
“My advice is that plants should reject expired or substandard LPG cylinders when they are brought for refilling.
“Also, we should ensure that used LPG cylinders are not imported into the country.
“LPG cylinders must be identified with manufacturer’s or importer’s name/logo while imported LPG cylinders must have SON registration number for traceability.
“Also, locally produced LPG cylinders must have MANCAP number for traceability,”Okpeh said.
Also, Malam Farouk Salim, Director-General, SON, said SON was ready to collaborate with with relevant stakeholders and agencies to enforce standards across the oil and gas value chain.
Salim said the importation of substandard LPG cylinders was an economic sabotage as it prevented local manufacturers from thriving while endangering the lives of Nigerians.
