The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has called on filling station owners to adopt effective fire safety measures to prevent fires and minimize loss of lives and property.
The Chairman of IPMAN’s Enugu Depot Unit, Mr. Chinedu Anyaso, made this disclosure on Sunday in Enugu, stressing the importance of fire precautions in the oil and gas sector, particularly in his region.
Anyaso stated that all petroleum outlets under the unit’s jurisdiction are required to have fully functional fire extinguishers and buckets of sand before opening for daily operations.
He also mentioned that each filling station must display a “No Phone Calls, Please” sticker, along with the contact details of the nearest firefighting or service station.
He mentioned that IPMAN is working with the Federal Fire Service to organize a seminar for petroleum marketers and their station attendants.
The aim is to improve safety awareness, with training focusing on the proper handling of fire extinguishers, recognizing expiration dates, and preventing leaks caused by poor storage.
“The training includes how to ensure that the content of the fire extinguishers do not leak due to poor handling and storage as well as to know when a fire extinguisher expires.
“They will also be exposed to other necessary things to implement in case of a fire incident within a filling station.
“We recorded a fire incident in a filling station outlet in a remote area of the state caused by answering a phone call close to a pump nozzle dispensing fuel in a filling station in January,” he stated.
Anyaso referenced a recent fire outbreak in January at a remote filling station, caused by a customer answering a phone call near a dispensing pump nozzle.
He also advised fuel station operators to take atmospheric temperatures into account before offloading petroleum products.
IPMAN’s call for stronger safety measures comes in response to increasing concerns about fire hazards at fuel stations, with the association urging strict adherence to safety protocols to prevent further incidents.
