The Abia State government has sounded it loud and clear that it is not leaving any stone unturned in ensuring the implementation of the State House of Assembly directive on the prohibition of the siting of filling stations in residential and market areas.
The State Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Professor Joel Ogbonna who stated this while featuring on a Broafcasting Corporation of Abia State Current Affairs programme “Public Arena”, noted that as a government believes in the economic prosperity of her citizens, the current administration under Dr. Alex Otti will continue to ensure that people do businesses in a safe and environmentally sustainable manner to avert any doom.
Professor Ogbonna expressed regrets that most of the petrol and gas filling station operators in the state are not following due process and harped on the need for petrol and gas filling station operators to put into consideration environmental and safety precautions while siting their businesses.
The Commissioner disclosed that his Ministry is partnering the Ministry of Environment and Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA) in carrying out the implementation of the Resolution by the State House of Assembly, revealing that a team of unbiased auditors who are carrying out the Environmental Social Impact Assessment of the Petroleum stations in the state has already been dispatched.
On the 10,000-barrel-per-day modular refinery being developed by the state government at Abia Industrial Innovation Park in Owaza, Ukwa West Local Government Area, he pointed out that the state government is making steady progress as the feasibility study, conceptual design and project site acquisition has been completed, assuring that the project will be realized before the end of 1st term of Governor Otti.
