Explosive Risk at UBA Gate: Concerns Grow as Gas Station Sited Between Homes and Shops in Ado-Ekiti

 

By Oriontimes Reporter

Ado-Ekiti | January 2026

Residents and business owners around the UBA Gate axis of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, have raised serious safety concerns over the siting of a gas station erected between residential buildings and commercial shops, an area frequented daily by students and the general public.

Report reaching Oriontimes indicate that the gas station is located dangerously close to houses and shops, in an environment where students are often seen smoking cigarettes, a situation residents describe as a potential disaster waiting to happen.

According to multiple sources within the community, several complaints have been lodged with relevant authorities, warning of the dangers posed by the facility’s location. However, residents allege that little or no action has been taken, reportedly because the owner of the gas station is perceived to be influential within the society.

“This is not about politics or power; it is about human lives,” a concerned resident told Oriontimes. “One spark is enough to wipe out families, shops, and innocent students.”

Safety experts have repeatedly warned that gas facilities require strict adherence to zoning regulations, including adequate distance from residential buildings, schools, and areas with high human traffic. The presence of open flames, cigarette smoking, and heavy student movement around the area has heightened public anxiety.

Community members are now calling on Ekiti State regulatory agencies, including environmental, fire service, and urban planning authorities, to urgently investigate the approval process that allowed the gas station to be erected at such a sensitive location.

They insist that development must never come at the cost of human safety, stressing that disasters are often preventable when early warnings are heeded.

As Nigeria continues to grapple with avoidable tragedies linked to regulatory failures, residents say this situation serves as a reminder that life must be valued above profit and influence.

Nigerians must curb disasters before they happen,  not after lives and properties are lost.

Oriontimes will continue to monitor developments and hold relevant authorities accountable in the interest of public safety.