Anxiety is spreading across parts of Asaba, the Delta State capital, as residents and a private school have petitioned Governor Sheriff Oborevwori over the siting of an alleged illegal Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plant within a residential neighbourhood, warning that it constitutes a serious threat to lives and property.
The petitioners, comprising the management of Infant Jesus Educational Academy and residents of Imade Osazee Street, Infant Jesus Road, raised concerns over the construction of the gas facility behind an A.A. Rano filling station, barely a stone’s throw from homes and the school premises.
In a petition dated January 19, 2026, and addressed to the governor through their lawyers, P.J. Eleweke and Partners, the residents warned that the LPG plant is dangerously close to the school’s boarding facilities, which accommodate more than 500 pupils, as well as surrounding residential buildings.
The petition, which has been formally acknowledged by the Governor’s Office in Asaba, alleged that the project violates established safety standards, particularly mandatory setback regulations required for gas installations in populated areas.
According to the petitioners, the facility is being constructed less than five metres from residential bedrooms in a densely populated environment, without the necessary approvals from relevant authorities. They further claimed that preliminary findings by the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) suggested that the LPG component was discreetly incorporated into the petrol station project without formal authorisation.
The development, they noted, has heightened fears among parents, residents and school administrators, who worry about the consequences of a possible gas explosion in such close proximity to children and families.
They cited the Agbor gas explosion of 2025 as a grim reminder of the devastation such incidents can cause, warning that a similar occurrence in the Asaba location would be catastrophic.
“This is a ticking time bomb,” the petitioners said, stressing that any mishap could result in large-scale loss of lives and property, particularly among vulnerable school children.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Ministry of Oil and Gas is said to have issued a stop-work notice at the site following mounting safety concerns and questions over regulatory compliance.
The residents and school authorities have, therefore, appealed to Governor Oborevwori to urgently intervene by ordering a comprehensive investigation and ensuring a permanent halt to the construction of the alleged illegal LPG plant, insisting that proactive action would avert what they described as an avoidable disaster.
