Kehinde Ishola
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has expressed deep sorrow over the deadly gas explosion that occurred on Friday, 21 November 2025, in the Ona Ara area of Ibadan, Oyo State, describing the incident as both needless and preventable.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Louis Ibah, the minister condoled with the Oyo State Government, the families of the deceased, and injured residents currently receiving treatment.
Preliminary findings revealed that the explosion occurred while a gas tanker was offloading liquefied petroleum gas into a 2.5-metric-tonne illegal skid concealed within a densely populated neighbourhood.
The blast tore through homes, shops and a nearby church, forcing residents to flee in panic.
Confirming the incident, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Fire Reform and Chairman of the Fire Services Agency, Moroof Akinwande, said three lives were lost.
“It was a gas tanker, registration number LSR 268 YC, loaded with 15 tonnes of LPG, that exploded while transferring the product into a gas skid tank,” he said.
“The blast damaged two tankers and a residential building. Three bodies were recovered and handed over to policemen from the Akanran Division. The operation was conducted jointly with the Federal Fire Service, Ibadan Command. The prompt arrival of our officers helped bring the situation under control.”
In Sunday’s statement, Ekpo condemned the existence of the unlicensed facility, stressing that the catastrophe resulted from operators cutting corners and ignoring safety standards.
“The tragedy was completely avoidable,” he said. “Illegal facilities and unsafe practices pose unacceptable risks to communities. No operator has the right to endanger public safety by setting up unapproved gas sites or handling gas without the required expertise.”
Ekpo disclosed that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority had begun a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of the explosion and identify those responsible. He urged eyewitnesses and residents to cooperate fully with investigators.
While noting that gas remains one of the safest and cleanest energy sources when properly handled, the minister emphasised that negligence, poor equipment handling and unlicensed installations—rather than the product itself—trigger such disasters.
He warned all illegal gas operators to vacate the sector immediately or face sanctions, including prosecution and the dismantling of unsafe facilities.
“The government will rigorously enforce safety regulations to safeguard lives, property and public confidence in Nigeria’s gas sector,” he said.
The Ibadan explosion adds to a troubling pattern of gas-related accidents across Nigeria, many linked to illegal refilling plants operating within residential areas. Safety experts have repeatedly urged authorities to intensify surveillance and clamp down on the proliferation of unlicensed skids as domestic gas consumption rises.