The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Abeokuta Field Office, in Ogun State, on Wednesday, sealed off a gas outlet operating illegally in Magboro area of Ogun State. Three workers of the station (name withheld) were equally arrested.

The Operations Controller of DPR, Muinat  Bello-Zagi, while briefing newsmen during a surveillance tour, said the gas plant which had been sealed on previous occasions had refused to comply with the DPR’s standard procedure.

She said “This gas plant in Magboro has been sealed for operating illegally. We have sealed this particular gas plant before. It is not the first time we have discovered this place. The first time we discovered this place, we served a notice and sealed the place.  We invited the owners to a meeting in our office and explained to them that we want everyone in the business of oil and gas to operate under the guidelines and law.

“We implored him to look for another location. On another occasion, we came around and it was still operational. We had to get a padlock to seal the place. However, to our surprise, today, the owner did not break our padlock but decided to make another entrance that was not there before and that’s why we sealed the place once again and were going to prosecute him.

“Sometimes ago, we said anybody that is operating any illegal plant in Ogun State, once we get hold of them, we are going to prosecute them. The law says for you to set up a gas plant, it has to be at least 50 meters away from a public place. This particular place is very close to gas pipelines and doesn’t have any of our approval.