On a brand new episode of YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOU, the program’s sponsor, TPL Ogunseyi Ayodele decided to address the recent fire outbreaks in Akure stating that the problems were associated with Ondo state’s lack of development planning for Petrol stations.
The host queried why there seems to be a lack of developmental control and nonconformity with planning standards in setting of petrol stations, in most Nigerian cities stating that Akure was also not left out. She continued that the town design methods violate the planning standard due to their poor location, insufficient size, restricted setback from roads, and poor radius allowance from significant amenities and that as a result of this unplanned development, there is traffic congestion, localized pollution, fire, and other issues. TPL Ogunseyi Ayodele, asserted this saying that the absence of development planning for Petrol stations, is one of the main sources of fire dangers and air pollution in the city of Akure. He added that safety practitioners locating petrol stations should be of the utmost importance in preventing fire hazards and reducing potential risks that could affect humans and the environment in most urban areas.
He mentioned that in Nigeria, Akure to be precise there is a high demand of land for socio economic services, stating that these demands often result in the land scramble and illegal conversion of land uses and that this leads to the deliberate location of petrol stations in unsuitable areas that are highly vulnerable to others. He added that several problems have come to be associated with poorly located filling stations. He called for the immediate attention of policy makers and environmentalists, including the town planners as well as researchers. He added that petrol station location has contributed to traffic congestion, pollution and fires.
When asked what the minimum requirements to get a development permit from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban planning to build a petrol station, TPL Ogunseyi Ayodele said that a minimum of 2000 square meters must be present in a new location but, if the location is in a constructed area, you must have a duty area of a minimum of 1500 square meters, which is approximately two plots.
He added that the investors or the consultant in charge of the project must hold a meeting with the community members so the investors can get the approval of the members of that community. He said the surveyor general of Ondo State must approve your tax clearance certificate. Moreover, a certificate of occupancy is required. Another requirement is a complete set of architectural drawings which must include a drawing of setback of 12 meters to the property line, air space and rear space must be 6metres, perimeter fence must not exceed 1.8 meters, and the driveway to the petrol station and the exit way must not be less than 9 meters, a distance of 500m to the next filing station, also a police report, a fire service certificate, and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
When asked why there were still Petrol stations in questionable areas of the state, TPL Ogunseyi Ayodele responded that it was due to corruption on the part of the policymakers, Corruption within the regulators or offices that are supposed to implement government policies and also corruption from the investors. He stated that some investors, who have the money and want to get it done at all cost, will find their way to get it approved without the community members approval.
When asked if as a citizen, you discover that a Petrol station was about to be built in your area, can you walk up to them and demand to see their Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), is it your right to ask questions like that, and if it’s not a violation of the owner’s privacy. TPL Ogunseyi Ayodele said that asking gas station owners for their EIA is entirely lawful and that it’s every citizen’s right to know, as your rights could be infringed upon if you do not ask the right questions, and that it’s not a violation of their privacy. He added that if a fuel station owner won’t let community members view their EIA, they can go to the Ministry of Planning and request a letter requesting the owners’ EIA.
When asked what function of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) , formerly known as the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), is in the development authorization for Petrol stations. TPL Ogunseyi Ayodele said that an approval from them is the first in the process of getting a development permit, he stated that before you receive your approval from DPR, now known as NUPRC, the official will have to check the location to verify if it’s suitable for a filling station he stated that the officials would check to see the proximity of the distance of the filling station to the road, they would also check if the location is within the pipeline or any electricity allocation table, they will check if you’ll not block the right of way, they will also check the distance from the edge of the road to the nearest pump, which must not be less than 15meters, they will check that the drainage from the side will not go into the stream, but he cannot say for sure that these petrol stations have the permit to build in all these areas as they are clearly violating some of these rules.
When asked what advice he had for the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, TPL. Ogunseyi Ayodele responded that his advice was for them to put the existing legislation into practice. He said they can do the right thing by following the regulations. They are supposed to go round and inspect the area these stations will be built in before giving a permit for it to be built.
On if having filing stations in residential areas was against the planning law, TPL Ogunseyi Ayodele, said that though it is improper to have filling stations in residential areas, due to the growing population, development will come towards the filling station and some people will build around Petrol stations in one way or the other. He also stated that based on what the researchers have studied on the environment, pollution from filling stations could contaminate buildings as far as 100m away and that is one of the reasons why it is also improper to have BBQ and Suya shops close to fuel stations because doing so puts at risk vulnerable facilities like hospitals, maternity schools, and old people’s homes that might be in the surrounding areas of said Fuel stations.
TPL Ogunseyi Ayodele, the program’s sponsor, in his concluding statement added that people shouldn’t be frightened to raise questions since their voices will be heard when they do.