The House of Representatives has urged the Standards Organisation of Nigeria to design a strategy to regulate the use of old gas cylinders as well as enforce the withdrawal and replacement of expired gas cylinders from circulation.
The House also mandated its Committee on Gas Resources to ensure implementation of the resolution and report within four weeks for further legislative action.
At the plenary on Wednesday, Sergius Ogun had moved a motion titled ‘Need to Replace the Expired Cooking Gas Cylinders in Nigeria’, which the lawmakers unanimously adopted.
According to Ogun, over nine million Nigerians utilise Liquefied Petroleum Gas for cooking and 90 per cent of the LPG/cooking gas are contained in expired cylinders.
The lawmaker also said the cylinders outlive their safety limits after 15 years and most cylinders in Nigeria are over 30 years old, making them very dangerous for use.
He said, “The House is disturbed about the non-testing and proliferation of expired gas cylinders currently in circulation across the country.
“The House is aware of the need to invest in cylinder operating plants and to have cylinder recycling plants as the community lacks cylinder plants.
“The House is also aware that investment in the local production of gas cylinders will allow for the affordable replacement of old/obsolete cylinders.
“The House is disturbed that the continued use of old cylinders can cause explosions especially in poorly controlled environments.â€
Ogun recalled that there had been numerous incidents of cooking gas explosions in Nigeria, citing the explosion in Anambra State in 2017, which led to the loss of lives and destruction of properties.
