Obosi Residents Demand Relocation of Gas Plant Sited within Residential Area

By Chukwudi Ebele

A large group of Obosi women and youths came out Monday morning to protest 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, Obosi in Idemili North LGA, Anambra State poses a great danger to the lives and property of resident around that neighborhood.

The protesters which include the next door neighbors were holding aloft placards with inscriptions like: “Our Health is not for Sale”, “No Gas plants in Residential Areas”, “Our lives Matter More”, “Revoke the Approval Now, Urban Physical Planning Board”, “Community before Corporate Interest”, “Safety first, Not Danger Next Door ‘.

Speaking during the protest, the Vice Chairman Obosi land Management Council OLMC Isiowulu, Nze Chijioke Ejindu flanked by the Youth Chairman Tony Efobi, Secretary OLMC Isiowulu, Uzochukwu Animalu, Chidimmà Muoghalu in their separate speeches said 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 sited at an industrial area not in the midst of residential buildings in the heart of the town. Nobody knows tomorrow. We want it to be stopped right away because we cannot imagine the loss of lives and property that could be affected 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 Station business which are highly inflammable.

According to the nearest neighbor, Mrs Ujunwa Uzochukwu whose fence separated the mega gas Plant and her family house, In 2023 when 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 the Gas Plant project. But we were surprised to discover that he was allowed to complete the construction and installation of the Gas Plant.

“What prompted this protest was that two days ago, the owner off loaded (Discharged) a tanker of Cooking gas in this place meaning that all our pleas fell on deaf ears probably because he thinks he has connections to do what he wants even if it was 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 Mrs Uzochukwu.

However, when the owner of the Cooking Gas plant, Mr Nnamdi was contacted via a phone call by newsmen he claimed that he obtained every necessary document and got the approval from the state government before establishing the Gas Plant saying that he would never abandon his business nor relocate for any reason except he is paid in full every farthing he spent purchasing and establishing the Gas Plant.