The Anambra State House of Assembly is to collaborate with the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to ensure residents of the state are not exposed to dangers of gas explosion.
The Chairman House Committee on Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Mr Chidi Ibemeka stated this when the lawmakers had an interaction with members of IPMAN Enugu Depot at the Assembly complex in Awka.
According to him, the aim of the meeting is to collaborate and ensure regulations guiding the operations of Petroleum dealers in the state are maintained and adhered to in the overall benefit of the people.
Mr Ibemeka also said there have been several petitions written to the committee on Petroleum over the situation which the people fear may be disastrous if urgent steps were not taken to put an end to such indiscriminate activities.
Contributing, member representing Ogbaru constituency 1, Mr Noble Igwe decried the rate at which individuals were establishing gas plants within Okpoko axis of the state without any consideration of the hazards that could befall the residents.
The Chairman House Committee on Environment, Mr Frederick Ezenwa, the Chairman House Committee on Transport, Mr Patrick Udeoba and the Chairman House Committee on Education, Mr Anayo Okpalaeke emphasised the need to ensure that there was sanity in oil and gas activities in Anambra.
Also, the Chairman House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Mr Ejike Okechukwu while noting that IPMAN activities and regulations were captured in the exclusive legislative list, pointed out that the regulations of the environment in the concurrent list makes room for the law makers to protect its citizens by way of legislation and oversight.
The Chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Enugu depot, Mr Chinedu Anyaso commended the House for the initiative.
