Increasing gas explosions: Developing safety intelligence over domestic, small business’ use of gas

The proliferation of records of incidences of gas explosions across the Country is gradually becoming an albatross. From the records of incidents of collosal explosion which used to be the case, the domestic incidents of gas accidents have most recently grown to make records of gas related accidents (within domestic shore) a phenomenon of reoccurring and troubling disaster. One quick recourse of the preponderance of the accidents could be linked to the increase in the use of gas for domestic and small business scale purposes, most recently.

It is observable that recent enlightenment on the benefits and cost effectiveness of the use of gas for domestic purposes, particularly for cooking, has increased tremendously. The economic benefits of the energy commodity against the use of kerosene which had for long dominated demand for cooking by majority of Nigerians in their homes, has most recently increased with a shift in demand from the later to the former.  However, the increasing shift of demand to gas and the associated use of same, have been associated with increasing accidents which many times leave fatal records behind. The records of reoccurring accidents mostly have left soar experiences in several homes.

Report on Thursday speaks of another explosion at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta,  Ogun State, which left two persons feared dead. The State has consistently been at the fore of news with reoccurring reports of gas related incidents. However, this is not to say that the cases of gas incidents is limited to the State. Increase in the phenomenon is one which cuts across areas in the Country where increasing use of gas for domestic and small scale business purposes have been on the increase. Apparently, the phenomenon draws reflection from the gap of intelligence in the required knowledge of how to manage the utility of a new facility.

Narrative from the Thursday incident, has it that the explosion which occurred around 11:00am at the Marcque event centre within the Presidential Library, occurred during a routine cleaning where one of the gas cylinders in the event centre exploded. It would be recalled that earlier on Tuesday, the Conference Hotel in Abeokuta owned by former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, was hit by an explosion, with two persons reportedly dead and three others injured. Report also revealed that two related occurrences of gas explosion last week claimed the lives of an infant and four others. Another report narrated that last Wednesday, three persons, including an infant were burnt to death in a gas explosion that occurred in Oke-Egunyan, along NTA Road in Abeokuta when a technician was topping up the gas of a faulty refrigerator. Barely 24 hours after the incident, another report of a gas explosion occurred on Mercy Road, Panseke, at the Ogun State Capital, where a technician injured, later had his leg amputated. The fatalities from gas related incidents are pitching towards records of colossal losses, whose effects on socio-economic status in the Country would no doubt be highly undesirable. Hence, the need for attention to be paid to the rising profile of the phenomenon is paramount. However, it is imperative to note that such attention to address the phenomenon is one which demands complementary efforts from all sides; the citizens from the public level as well as intervention from government authorities within the Country.

It is apparent that the spread of gas related accidents would have its cause and effect relation dimensions. The need to give depth of study to the phenomenon is key. It is essential for the Government to lead the course of such studies at an appreciable broadened level, as required, to gather enough information and intelligence needed to guide the usage of the energy. Hence, the need to develop  knowledge from commercial to domestic usage of the commodity is key. Since the cases of domestic  incidents have become troublesome with the increase in the shift in the use of gas, It becomes important for citizens to be enlightened on the use of the energy and all gadgets required in its usage. The importance of the role of the Government in terms of creating awareness and enlightenment on the parameters for safety in using the commodity is essential.

It is also essential for Nigerians who make use of the energy domestically to become practically conscious and cautious in the process of its use. The need for citizens to gather intelligence and avail themselves of all existing informations on the guidelines over the usage of the energy for domestic purposes is paramount. In addition, the need for small scale business users of the energy who utilise same for their production processes, to be acquainted with the Safety rules related to the commercial use of gas is important.

It is essentially important for the Government to lead the course to vitalise studies in broadening the depth of intelligence on the domestic as well as small scale business usage of gas. This is paramount to develop and vitalise understanding in gas usage within the parlance of Best Quality Health Safety and Environment knowledge. This is important to make intelligence available for Nigerians to prevent the rising cases of avoidable incidents claiming the lives of many Nigerians and inflicting injuries on others. The socio-economic impacts of such incidents are known to be disastrous to the society in the long run. Hence, it is paramount for both the Government to play its role in terms of profound investigations and intelligence gathering to create awareness on the use of gas energy, while citizens should pay conscious attention to the importance of availing themselves with the existing safety rules on the use of gas, particularly within domestic walls and small business environments.