The Jigawa Command of the Nigeria Security Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), said on Sunday that it had set up a team to enforce safety standards by gas retailers and filling stations operating in the state.
The NSCDC Commandant, Alhaji Garba Muhammad, said in a statement signed by the command’s spokesman, Adamu Shehu, issued in Dutse.
He said that the move was necessary following recent discovery by the command that majority of filling stations and cooking gas outlets did not even have functional fire extinguishers.
“In its recent inspection tour of some filling stations and cooking gas selling outlets in the metropolis, the command found out with dismay the nonchalant attitude of some of these facilities to safety standards.
“Out of the 21 stations visited, only nine conformed with the safety measures while defaulting ones were found with already exhausted and expired fire extinguishers.
“Therefore, the NSCDC Command will apply the law on them if they continue to compromise safety standards.
“Every filling station operating in the state must comply with all safety requirements such as active fire extinguishers, sand buckets, and no smoking signs among others,” he said.
Muhammad said that cooking gas vendors would not be allowed to operate around residential areas.
He added that the team was charged with the responsibility of enforcing safety laws, and warned operators of cooking gas outlets and filling stations that they would be severely sanctioned for non compliance.
Non compliance would be treated as an act of negligence and recklessness against innocent lives and property of the people, the Commandant stressed.
He, therefore, appealed to the general public to cooperate with the NSCDC compliance-enforcement team to ensure safety of lives and property in the state.
