A group of Obosi women and youths are on Monday on the street protesting against the establishment of a mega gas plant meant for retail/ dispensing of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or Cooking Gas within a residential area.
They decried that the continued construction of the cooking gas station at School of Health Road Ugamuma village of the community.
They hinge their opposition to the citing of the facility on the danger it poses to the lives and property of residents living around the neighborhood.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions like: “Our Health is not for sale”, “No Gas plants in residential areas”, and “Our lives matter more.”
Other inscriptions read: “Revoke the approval now: Urban Physical Planning Board”, “Community before corporate interest” as well as “Safety first, not danger next door.”
Addressing newsmen, the Vice Chairman, Obosi Land Management Council (OLMC) Isiowulu, Chijioke Ejindu flanked by the Youth Chairman, Tony Efobi, Secretary, Uzochukwu Animalu, and Chidimmà Muoghalu, insisted that siting such a highly inflammable commodity near people’s kitchen and houses was not acceptable to Obosi people.
“A mega gas plant such as this should be at an industrial area not in the midst of residential buildings in the heart of the town.
Tomorrow is pregnant
“Nobody knows tomorrow. We want government to stop it right away because we cannot imagine the loss of lives and property that could result in a case of any explosion.
“You can see that it is even close to a high-tension Electricity line.
“The owner can establish any other business here except cooking gas or petrol business which are highly inflammable.”
According to the nearest neighbor, Ujunwa Uzochukwu, whose fence separated the gas plant and her family house, efforts to stop the construction of the facility had failed in the past.
“In 2023, we discovered that the owner, Mr Nnamdi was about installing a cooking gas station.
“My husband and I approached him telling him the implications and danger such establishment could pose to the neighborhood. He ignored us and other neighbors who came to warn him.
“We later wrote to Anambra State Physical Planning Board ANSPPB which came, sealed the place and mandated the owner to discontinue.
“But it was surprising to us to discover that he went on and completed the construction and installation of the Gas Plant.
Commodity already discharged
She said they decided to protest after they saw that they discharged commodity at the facility two days ago.
“The owner off-loaded a tanker of cooking gas in this place meaning that all our pleas fell on deaf ears.
He probably thinks he has connections to do what he wants even if it despite that it is detrimental to human lives.
“You can see that this is a peaceful protest. Some other people could have resorted to destroying these structures overnight.
“But as peace loving people we chose to be civil. We want the government of Anambra State led by Prof. Charles Soludo to come to our rescue.
“No amount of money can compensate for the loss of any human being should there be any fire disaster around here”, said Uzochukwu.
When reached on the phone, the owner of the facility, Nnamdi claimed that he obtained every necessary document and approval from the state government.
He said he would never abandon his business or relocate for any reason except there is a refund of all the money he has invested in establishing the gas plant.
