SON’s advice to consumers on safe use of gas cylinders

Isola Moses

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has urged Nigerians to be safety conscious when using gas cylinders, especially with regard to the recent gas explosions in some parts of the country.

Mr. Osita Aboloma, Director-General of SON, gave the warning in a statement on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, in Abuja, FCT.

Agency reports say Mr. Aboloma advised Nigerian consumers to patronise only SON- certified Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and other standard cylinders with requisite markings.

This safety measure is to safeguard their homes, offices and surroundings from avoidable fire due to substandard cylinders.

ConsumerConnect recalls that a gas explosion occurred at a business area in Sabon Tasha within Kaduna metropolis on January 4, killing some people.

The SON boss, therefore, warned importers of cylinders to adhere strictly to the SON procedures, while placing order for the product, classified as life-endangering.

He emphasised the need for consumers to look out for embossed markings on all imported LPG cylinders as specified in the Nigeria Industrial Standard (NIS) 69:2013.

Such markings, according to him, include manufacturer’s brand name, country of origin, test pressure, tare weight and SON product registration number with prefix FA and year of manufacture.

The Director-General also advised gas users to identify SON Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme logo and number on certified, locally manufactured cylinders in addition to the markings specified for the imported products.

The specified life span of LPG cylinders in Nigeria is 15 years during which the cylinders must be recertified twice, after every five years, he opined.

The SON boss admonished users of cylinders to ensure proper handling of products while in transit and during use, and also adhere to necessary safety precautions.

Aboloma also warned gas dispensing plants to ensure due certification of their vessels as provided by the SON Act.

Meanwhile, Aboloma has said SON officers in the 42 state offices across the nation had been directed to inspect all LPG plants to ensure strict compliance.

“This will ensure the certification or re-certification of all installed vessels as the case may be,” he said.

The SON Director-General has also warned that the full weight of the law shall be brought to bear on any plant and owner that fails to comply with the mandatory requirement of the SON Act.

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