The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Eket Field office, Akwa Ibom, says it has intensified surveillance on illegal gas facilities in the state.

The Operations Controller of DPR in Akwa Ibom, Tamunoiminabo Kingsley-Sundaye, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Monday in Eket.

Kingsley-Sundaye said that the department was collaborating with law enforcement agencies to ensure that illegal gas facilities did not exist in the state.

“We have told the gas division of DPR to intensify surveillance to check illegal gas facilities in the state which they are doing on all street and in villages,” he said.

He noted that the risks involved in operating illegal gas facilities were enormous, including loss of lives, injuries and destruction of property.

“When we sense illegal dealings or inappropriate act in an aspect of the industry, we intensify our inspection so that we bring those involved down.

“This is to avoid it escalating because the entire oil and gas activities, if not managed well, will portend grave dangers for the state,” he said.

Kingsley-Sundaye warned petroleum product marketers who indulged in establishing illegal gas facilities to desist from it or face the wrath of the law.

He noted that the two illegal gas facilities located at Ewet Housing and Ukana Offer which was sealed on Oct. 31 had been dismantled.

“We have gone to check and the gas facilities have been dismantled. The two companies have written to us,” he said.

He noted that any gas facility established without engineering standard, safety measures and guidelines would not be allowed to operate in the state.

“We enforce technical standard and guidelines but at the end, the illegality of the facilities is decided by the courts,” he added.(NAN)