The Kano State House of Assembly has, in a bid to protect the lives of citizens and properties, moved to repeal the State Fire Service Directorate Edict No. 17 of 1970 to incorporate regulations addressing the indiscriminate and widespread sale of cooking gas within the Kano metropolis.
This action follows the presentation of a report by the standing committee on special duties, which investigated the sale of cooking gas in residential areas during a plenary session led by the Speaker, Hon. Ismail Falgore.
In presenting the report, the committee’s chairman, Abdullahi Yahaya, who represents the Gezawa constituency, stated that the Kano State Fire Service Directorate identified approximately 475 illegal cooking gas outlets after consultations with relevant stakeholders in the state.
He further noted that data from the state chapter of the Nigerian Mainstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NRDPRA) indicated the presence of 234 unlicensed natural gas retailers operating within the state.
The investigation was prompted by a motion introduced by Hon. Tasiu Abubakar, a member representing the Kiru constituency, concerning the dangers posed by the sale of cooking gas in the metropolitan area and the necessity for clear regulatory guidelines to protect lives and property from potential hazards.
Expressing concern over the rising number of unlicensed gas marketers, the committee chairman remarked that the findings pertain specifically to the Kano metropolitan area, where only a few retailers are registered with the NMDPRA, and these retailers often lack the necessary training to improve their operations.
The committee has recommended that the state government establish a permanent site for gas marketers at the six entry points to the Kano metropolitan area, similar to the designated locations for GSM and pharmaceutical vendors.
“The six sites shall be sited at Hadeja Road, Maiduguri Road, Zaria Road, Madobi Road, Gwarzo Road and Katsina Road,” Yahaya noted.
In the interim, after the House approved the report, the initiator of the motion, Hon. Abubakar, requested the assistance of fellow lawmakers to annul the Fire Agency Edict and implement all requisite modifications to strengthen, improve, and facilitate the operation of gas sale services within the state.
Hon. Salisu Mohammed, the representative for the Doguwa constituency, supported Abubakar’s motion.
