The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in Ogun has called on oil and gas marketers to take proactive measures to safeguard lives and investments against anticipated flooding.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, recently issued a flood alert, warning residents of an impending flood due to rising water levels on the Ogun River resulting from the release of water from the Oyan Dam.

According to Mr Oresanya, the increase in water flow would inevitably force the release of water from the dam, ultimately affecting some areas in Ogun.

The state coordinator of NMDPRA, Akinyemi Atilola, told marketers at a stakeholders’ meeting on Thursday in Abeokuta that the annual release of water from the dams in the northern parts of the country often results in flooding.

Mr Atilola noted that these downstream floods affect communities in the South-West, including Ogun State.

He listed about 15 flood-prone areas in the state, such as Alagbole, Makogi, Isheri, Magboro, Akute, Orimerunmu, Iro, Kajola, Lafenwa, Enugada, Adedotun, Iberekodo, Akin-Olugbade, and Ago-Odo.

Mr Atilola said the meeting aimed to sensitise stakeholders on the need to protect petroleum installations and prevent product spillages that could endanger lives, damage the environment, and disrupt energy distribution.

“Coming together is to make sure that our investments are safe, to bring more ideas and to mitigate the impact and effect of the potential backlash of the flood,” he said

He emphasised that while dam overflows are natural and unavoidable, their effects can be reduced through appropriate preventive measures, such as securing facilities, preventing spillages, and ensuring prompt response mechanisms.

In his presentation titled “Flood Alert: Petroleum Facilities Prioritised for Protection,” Chibuzo Akubueze, the head of health, safety, environment, and community (HSEC) at NMDPRA, Abeokuta, outlined the impacts of flooding on petroleum operations to include damage to pumps, tanks, and logistics routes, contamination of fuel and groundwater, and increased risks of fire and explosion, among others.

Mr Akubueze stressed the need for regular drainage maintenance, elevated electrical installations, the relocation of fuel trucks, and the deployment of emergency response teams to mitigate these challenges.

He called on stakeholders to take preventive action immediately, stressing that “prevention is cheaper than repair.”

Speaking on behalf of other stakeholders, Sodiq Mahmud, former secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Ogun, commended NMDPRA for organising the stakeholders’ meeting, saying it was necessary and informative.

A communique was issued at the end of the meeting, agreed upon by all stakeholders present, and read by Olufemi Adebowale, Head of Distribution System, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, NMDPRA.

Some recommendations in the communique include the formation of a flood response team in various flood-prone areas with necessary equipment and training, an enhanced communication channel, and operational downtime during flooding.

“Setting up a communication channel between the public, the stakeholders, and regulators.

“There will be a time-out for operation during the period of flooding. All tanks should be strapped, and all stations affected by the flood must come back to NMDPRA for recommission before they start working again,” Mr Adebowale said.

(NAN)