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For decades, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the agency of the government in charge of regulating activities in the Nigerian gas sector had been known for reaction rather than being proactive especially in the LPG gas plant segment.

This particular character of the sensitive department had clearly crossed the red line and should be condemned in its entirety by every right thinking Nigerian.

Whereas the vision of the agency is “To be a Leading Regulator in the Oil and Gas Sector,” its mission remains to “To ensure the sustainable development of Nigeria’s Oil and Gas resources across the value chain for our stakeholders through effective regulation, while entrenching world class professionalism, accountability, and transparency.”

However, both the vision and the mission have remained far from reality is the incessant gas explosions across major cities of the country are anything to go by.

Fact checks showed that every time gas explosion occurs, preliminary reports coming from DPR had always been the facility is operating illegally and this shows that the agency is not clearly alive to its calling.

Besides, what Nigerians hear once in a while is that DPR in this state or the other has carried out raids and shut one or two gas stations operating without due standards and licence. That in essence, means that the agency is only reactionary rather than being proactive because it shouldn’t be via raids that it must discharge its responsibilities.

Innocent lives are being regularly lost and many injured for live all because the agency failed to structure its operations to be proactive.

Only weekend, DPR reacting to the Jos gas explosion which sniffed out live from many Nigerians including the Chairman, Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), Prof. Simon Mallam, son and three others at Sabon Tasha area of Kaduna on Saturday,  the DPR North West Zonal Operations Controller, Mr Isa Tafida, said the Commission will clamp down on  illegal outlets.

Tafida said “The outcome of our preliminary investigations reveal that the facility is an illegal gas retailing vendor that engages in illegal storage, decanting and sales of LPG (cooking) and acetylene (industrial gases).

“The operator of that illegal facility is unknown to the department and the facility is not licensed by DPR,“ Tafida said.

According to him, the department has variously conducted trainings, monitoring of LPG outlets and issued warnings to members of the public not to patronise the illegal operators.

He said that DPR had also enjoined such illegal operators to follow the laid down rules and regulations, by obtaining license to ensure safe handling of gas; considering its volatility.

He said “Gas retailers who do not have category D license for retailing LPG are desperate for money, because LPG is new source of money and the public now know better, that using gas for cooking is faster and cleaner; but the public need to be aware that it has to be handled with caution.

“Investors should invest in gas business but they should follow the rules and regulations and do it in line with best practices,” he said.

While recalling that the agency said it had approved and licensed 38 LPG plants in Kaduna state in 2019, he decried that “Despite this, hundreds of unlicensed retailers and gas vendors are still operating within Kaduna city.”

Reacting to the incident in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja, President Buhari said: “I am deeply touched by this unfortunate incident that claimed the lives of Professor Simon Mallam, his son and others.

“The death of the erudite Professor has robbed Nigeria of a great scientist whose services were acutely needed at a time we are increasing emphasis on science and technology for development.

“I extend my heartfelt sympathy to his family and those of other victims of the gas explosion.

“May God comfort these families and give them the fortitude to bear the loss.”

Whereas the victims’ and others who had suffered a lot in related accidents will continue to bear

The loss with fortitude, time has come for the new leadership at the agency to wise up and seat up at the same time.

DPR need to be extremely proactive and not reactive. The management should mean business especially now, usage of cooking gas is gaining traction in Nigeria to avoid more loss of lives and property.

Business Hilights recalls that on December 18, 2019, President, Muhammadu Buhari approved the appointment of Mr Sarki Auwalu as substantive Director of the agency for an initial term of four years.

Nigerians are yet to hear or know his agenda even as more lives kept being at risk due to poor supervisory role and scanty compliance monitoring.