Blamah service stations locational impact assessment of gasoline

Service Stations Locational Impact Assessment of Gasoline along Abuja-
Keffi Road and Environs in Karu, Abuja, Nigeria
Blamah N.V.¹,*Vivan E.L.¹, Tagwi M.U.² and Ezemokwe I.U.³
¹Department of Geography and Planning, University of Jos, Nigeria.
²Falma Homes Ltd, No 5 Katsina Road off Ahmadu Bello Way, Kaduna
³Department of Environmental Management, Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka, Anambra State,
Nigeria
*Corresponding Author, e-mail address: ezravivan@yahoo.com, Mobile Phone Numbers:
+2348032880342, +2348097601269
ARTICLE INFO
Article history
Received 28 July 2012
Received in revised form 13 August 2012
Accepted 30 August 2012
Available online 30 September, 2012
Keywords:
Location, Impact Analysis,
Gasoline stations, Site
Analysis Report, Set backs
Abstract
This paper examines the locational impact of Gasoline service
station along Abuja- Keffi road. Primary data was collected
using Site Analysis Report (SAR) and Questionnaire,
seventeen (17) gasoline service stations were sampled out of a
total of fifty eight (58) service stations using the systematic
sampling technique while 150 copies of well structured
questionnaire which were administered to the respondents
Questions regarding the perceptions of respondents on the
impacts of the locations of gasoline service stations in the
area, and the respondents suggestions towards mitigating
such effects. The study result reveals, that the establishment
and location of these service stations in various parts of the
study area is going on without due regard to planning criteria,
safety and without considering the environment service
stations in the area are built with little or no compliance to
planning regulation and standards, these therefore remain a
source of concern to all. There is a need therefore for plans
and actions to tackle the situation for today and the future.
Suggestions were made so that any change introduced into the
environment should not facilitate its destruction and
consequently hazardous to human.
copyright@ 2012 cepa
JContents lists available at
Journal of Environmental Management and Safety
Journal homepage: www.cepajournal.com

Blamah N.V., Vivan E.L., Tagwi M.U and Ezemokwe I.U./Journal of Environmental Management and Safety Vol. 3, No. 5, (2012) 106 – 123
107
INTRODUCTION
The technological initiative of
man towards the development of
automobile and the discovery of
petroleum triggered the building of
petrol service stations at strategic
locations to meet the demand of vehicle
owners (Abdul et al 2009).
In recent times, there has been a
sustained increase in the number of
filling stations established in different
part of the country. The reasons for such
unprecedented increase are not
farfetched: First, the growing number of
people in the country and the attendant
increase in the purchase of vehicles.
Secondly, the attractive price of petrol
both at control price and black market
prices which made more people to go
into the petrol retailing business
(Uchegbu, 2002).
In view of this development,
many marketers take advantage of this
need and build service stations
haphazardly without giving
consideration to the possible effect of the
locations of the stations. It has now
generally been recognized that economic
development can be a major contributing
factor to growing environmental
problems particularly when such
development is not sustainable. A greatly
improved understanding of natural
resource base and mostly environmental
systems that support national economies
is needed if patterns of development that
are sustainable can be determined and
recommended to government.
Gasoline Service Stations, as
outlets for retailing petroleum resources
such as gas, fuel, kerosene etc, which are
highly inflammable, therefore need to be
located appropriately in relation to other
activities so as to avoid its consequent
impact on the immediate environment.
The environmental impacts of the
locations of petrol stations are therefore
not negligible and may not be
ascertained unless an Impact analysis is
carried out.
THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
The proliferation of Gasoline
Service Stations along Abuja-keffi road
is quite disturbing. Numerous Petrol
Stations have been developed and some
more under construction along the single
express way that links many North
Central and North Eastern states of the
country to the Federal Capital Territory
(FCT). With the nature of the haphazard
and unprecedented developments of
stations, one wonders if the developers
of the stations have really satisfied the
requirements and have undergone the
processes for approval and development
of the stations in the area
Petrol Stations along the road
were noticed to be too close to each
other; some even were developed side-
by-side wherefore having a higher
tendency of enormous and wider effects
on the immediate environment. The
locations of petrol stations in relation to
road intersections and U-Turns and their
setbacks from the express way, high
tension electricity line and adjourning
land uses have also raised some
questions concerning the safety of the
area.
In Nigeria, generally, power
supply is known to be unsteady and

108
therefore many of the stations, if not all,
are expected to be using privately
generating plants which may have some
noise and air pollution effects on the
immediate environment. The rowdiness
at and around petrol stations especially
during fuel scarcity is also another area
of concern (Michael, 2008).
The study intends to find out the
impacts the proliferation of the Gasoline
Service Stations with their
unprecedented locations to have on the
environment and therefore there is a
need to analyse the Impact of their
locations so as to profound a sustainable
solution to the problems.
AIM
The study is aimed at assessing the
impact of Gasoline service stations on
the environment along Abuja-keffi road
with a view to identifying the physical
development problems and to make
improvement proposals.
OBJECTIVES
(i) To assess the location of Gasoline
service stations in relation to other
land uses in the study area
(ii) To determine the distance of
Gasoline service stations from
utility lines
(iii) To determine the proximity or
otherwise of Gasoline service
stations to residential, public/semi-
public land uses
(iv) To ascertain the effects of the
locations of Gasoline service
stations on the environment of the
study area
(v) To recommend physical planning
solutions to alleviate the problems
identified
THE STUDY AREA
The study area is comprised of 5 major
settlement along the corridor (Abuja –
Keffi –Karu road) . Karu is located at
Latitude 7° 34' 32' N and Longitude 8°
59' 46' E in Nasarawa State North
Central region of Nigeria. It shares
boundaries with Abuja, the Federal
Capital Territory (F.C.T.) to the west,
Jaba L.G.A. in Kaduna State to the north
and Keffi/Kokona L.G.A. to the East.
Karu is part of the development corridors
of the FCT because of its proximity to
Abuja. It is therefore one of the largest
conurbations in central Nigeria as a
result of the massive influx of people to
Abuja. (KAPDA, 2007).
MATERIAL AND METHOD
This is a survey research. Both primary
and secondary data were used in this
study. Primary data include measurement
locations and distances in-between
filling stations, proximity of station to
utility lines and public/semi public
buildings, land uses and setbacks around
stations and responses on locational
effect from respondents. Secondary
Source involves relevant literature
publications from books and journals,
internet materials, land use map of the
study area and documents from
government agencies. Field survey
involved Site Analysis Report (SAR) and
Questionnaire. SAR was to determine
the general set up of the area, activities
and approximate distances of existing

109
facilities and utilities to each station, and
questionnaire to determine respondent’s
view toward the locational impacts of the
service stations. Instruments used for
data collection in this research were SAR
Form and Questionnaire
Systematic Sampling method was
used in selecting the Petrol Stations to be
assessed. On the list of the identified
stations, as shown in Table 1, starting
from the boundary point of Abuja and
Nasarawa towards Keffi, every third (3rd
)
station was continuously selected for
assessment to the end of the study area
ignoring stations under construction in
the process of the selection. The asterisk
(*) on Serial Numbers indicates sampled
stations, that constituted the sample size
of 1/3 of the total functional petrol
stations in the area.
Table 1: NAMES AND DISTANCES OF GASOLINE SERVICE STATIONS
FROM ABUJA/NASARAWA STATE BOUNDARY TO KUCHIKAU
S/N Station Name Distance (Km) from
Abuja/Nassarawa
Boundary
Side of the
Road
Name of
Area
1 AA Rano Nig. Ltd. 00.10 Right Mararaba
2 NNPC Mega 00.60 Right Mararaba
3* Conoil 00.70 Right Mararaba
4 Asma Nig. Ltd. 00.90 Left Mararaba
5 Under construction 02.80 Left Mararaba
6 Texaco 02.90 Right Mararaba
7* Total 03.00 Right Mararaba
8 Mashasha Nig. Ltd.. 03.10 Right Mararaba
9 Abdul-Abdul Nig. Lmt. 03.15 Right Mararaba
10* AP 03.20 Right Mararaba
11 Total 03.50 Left Mararaba
12 Yaman Nig. Ltd. 03.70 Left Mararaba
13 Under construction 04.60 Right Kurunduma
14* Oando 04.70 Left Kurunduma
15 Datino Oil 04.80 Left Kurunduma
16 Mobil 05.10 Right Kurunduma
17* Texaco 05.20 Right Kurunduma
18 Dikas Petco Ltd. 05.20 Left Kurunduma
19 Taen Oil Nig. Ltd.. 05.30 Left Kurunduma
20* Fero de Brothers Oil 05.40 Left Kurunduma
21 Adehi & CoNig. Lmt 05.90 Right Kurunduma
22 Verbins Ltd. 06.00 Right Kurunduma
23 Under construction 06.90 Left Ado
24* Ernmaco Petroleum Nig. Ltd. 07.10 Right Ado

110
Note: The Asterisk (*) on the Serial Numbers Indicates Sampled Stations (Those under
construction were skipped during sample selection).
Source: Field survey 2011
25 Oando 07.20 Left Ado
26 Falake Oil Ltd. 07.25 Right Ado
27* Conoil 07.30 Left Ado
28 Texaco 07.70 Left Ado
29 NNPC 07.90 Left Ado
30* AP 08.00 Left Ado
31 No Name 08.20 Right Ado
32 Total 08.35 Right Ado
33* Choice 08.35 Left Ado
34 Halim oil Nig. Ltd. 08.40 Left Ado
35 Aliache Petroleum Service. Ltd. 08.40 Right Ado
36* Willno Marketing Nig. Ltd. 08.45 Right Ado
37 Halim Int Nig. Ltd. 08.75 Right Ado
38 Winno Marketing Nig, 09.10 Left Ado
39* So mai Sonka Ltd . 09.50 Left Masaka
40 Engenecho Oil & Gas Nig. Ltd. 10.60 Left Masaka
41 Capital 10.70 Left Masaka
42* Antonio Oil 10.85 Left Masaka
43 AP 10.90 Left Masaka
44 Alafam Nig. Ltd. 11.00 Left Masaka
45* AP 11.30 Left Masaka
46 Total 11.40 Left Masaka
47 Under construction 12.80 Left Masaka
48 Chimas Oil Nig. Ltd. 12.90 Right Masaka
49 Under construction 13.10 Right Masaka
50* Chanso Oils 13.50 Right Kuchikau
51 So mai Sonka 14.00 Left Kuchikau
52 Oando 14.10 Left Kuchikau
53* Oston Nig. Lmt. 14.10 Right Kuchikau
54 Diekop Nig. Ltd. 14.20 Left Kuchikau
55 Under construction 14.20 Right Kuchikau
56 Conoil 14.30 Left Kuchikau
57* No Name 14.45 Right Kuchikau
58 Total 14.60 Right Kuchikau

111
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Locations of Service Stations in
the Study Area
The location of service stations in
the study area were as presented in Fig 1.
There were 52 functional service stations
and 6 under construction all together
making 58 service stations. Out of the
total functional ones, as shown on Table
3.1, 21.2% were in Maraba, 17.3% in
Kuruduma, 28.8% in Ado, 17.3% in
Masaka and 15.4% in Kuchikau.
Fig 1: Map of the Study Area Showing the Locations of Gasoline Service Station
Proximity of Gasoline Service Stations and Dangers Involved
According to Guideline for Petrol
Station Development (KAPDA, 2007),
Proposed filling stations shall be 450m
away from any other filling station
within the nearest vicinity. But as shown
on Table1, the existing intervals between
gasoline service stations in the area are
not in compliance to the standard.
Distances in-between stations that were
found to have fallen short of the
standards were 42 out of 50 i.e. 84%.
Petrol stations like Mashasha Nig. Ltd.,
Abdul-Abdul Nig. Ltd. and AP were
found to be developed side-by-side to
each other which is very disastrous to the
area. Others were Choice and Halim oil
Nig. Ltd., and Antonio Oil, AP and
Alafam Nig. Ltd.,
66.7% of the respondents
agreed that there were dangers in the
closeness of stations. They gave reasons
why and how the proximity of the
stations was posing danger on the
community. According to them:
• Petrol is flammable, and so, in the
event of fire outbreak in one station,
the fire spreads easily to the closely
located petrol station(s) and

112
therefore the people, houses,
properties, and other utilities like
electric lines, telephone lines and
telecom masts in the areas stand a
higher risk of being affected because
the effect of the fire outbreak in one
station easily spreads to others and
affects a wider surrounding
environment.
• Closely located stations attract
much more traffic and people to the
area and hence more impact on the
area in terms of road traffic hazards.
Stations opposite to each other bring
about double parking on both sides
of the road and that results into
traffic problems e.g. traffic jam,
crashes etc.
Table 2: Distances In-between Gasoline Service Stations along Abuja-Keffi Road
From To Kiliometre Metre
AA Rano Nig. Ltd. NNPC Mega 0.5 500
NNPC Mega Conoil 0.1 100
Conoil Asma Nig. Ltd. 0.2 200
Asma Nig. Ltd. Under construction 1.9 1900
Under construction Texaco 0.1 100
Texaco Total 0.1 100
Total Mashasha Nig. Ltd. 0.1 100
Mashasha Nig. Ltd. Abdul-Abdul Nig. Ltd. 0.05 50
Abdul-Abdul Nig. Lmt. AP 0.05 50
AP Total 0.3 300
Total Yaman Nig. Ltd 0.2 200
Yaman Nig. Ltd NNPC Mega Under
construction
0.9 900
Under construction Oando 0.1 100
Oando Datino Oil 0.1 100
Datino Oil Mobil 0.3 300
Mobil Texaco/ Dikas Petco Ltd.. 0.1 100
Texaco /Dikas Petco Ltd Taen Oil Nig. Ltd. 0.1 100
Taen Oil Nig. Ltd. Fero de Brothers Oil 0.1 100
Fero de Brothers Oil Adehi & CoNig. Ltd. 0.5 500
Adehi & CoNig. Ltd. Verbins Lmt 0.1 100
Verbins Ltd. Under construction 0.9 900
Under construction Ernmaco Petroleum Nig. Ltd. 0.2 200
Ernmaco Petroleum Nig. Ltd. Oando 0.1 100
Oando Falake Oil Ltd. 0.05 50
Falake Oil Ltd. Conoil 0.05 50
Conoil Texaco 0.4 400
Texaco NNPC 0.2 200

113
NNPC AP 0.1 100
AP Under construction 0.2 200
Under construction Total/ Choice 0.15 150
Total/ Choice Halim oil Nig. Ltd./ Aliache
Petroleum Service. Ltd.
0.05 50
Halim oil Nig. Ltd / Aliache
Petroleum Service. Ltd
Willno Marketing Nig. Ltd. 0.05 50
Willno Marketing Nig. Ltd. Halim Int Nig. Ltd. 0.3 300
Halim Int Nig. Lmt Winno Marketing Nig, 0.35 350
Winno Marketing Nig, So mai Sonka Lmt. 0.4 400
So mai Sonka Ltd.. Engenecho Oil & Gas Nig.
Ltd.
1.1 1100
Engenecho Oil & Gas Nig. Ltd. Capital 0.1 100
Capital Antonio Oil 0.15 150
Antonio Oil AP 0.05 50
AP Alafam Nig. Ltd. 0.1 100
Alafam Nig. Ltd. AP 0.3 300
AP Total 0.1 100
Total Under construction 1.4 1400
Under construction Chimas Oil Nig. Ltd. 0.4 400
Chimas Oil Nig. Ltd, So mai Sonka 0.5 500
So mai Sonka Oando/ Oston Nig. Ltd. 0.1 100
Oando/ Oston Nig. Lmt. Diekop Nig. Ltd ./ Under
construction
0.1 100
Diekop Nig. Ltd / Under
construction
Conoil 0.1 100
Conoil No Name 0.15 150
No Name Total 0.15 150
ROAD TRAFFIC PROBLEMS
CAUSED BY PETROL FILLING
STATIONS
Road traffic problems do occur in
the areas as a result of the wrongful
location and concentrations of petrol
stations in the area. 60.8% of the
respondents agreed that the stations were
causing traffic problems like traffic jam.
Other effects were traffic law violations
and road traffic accidents.
According to respondents,
reasons for the traffic problems were
that:
• There are no enough setbacks of
service stations from the Express way,
that is to say, the stations are too close
to the Express way thereby resulting
into accident and traffic jams
• The filling stations are used by some
as Motor Parks/Bus Stops. Because of

114
some financial problems, people do
board commercial vehicles at cheaper
rates while traveling to Jos or going
into Abuja and therefore the stations
become congested with commercial
vehicles and people. The stations are
also used by commercial motor cycle
riders as a passenger waiting point.
• Some of the stations are situated by
U-Turns or Junctions on the Express
Way. Negotiating the U-Turns
therefore becomes very difficult
because of the long queue at the
station that blocks the other side of
the road. Some drivers also, in trying
to find short-cuts to the stations, could
not go through the long way of
junctions or U-Turns therefore violet
traffic rules by diverting route.
Queues from the filling stations also
go the opposite direction of traffic
flow which forces some drivers to
violet traffic rules for them to be able
to join the queue.
• Double queues and wrong parking by
vehicles taking fuel at the stations and
tankers off-loading fuels also disrupt
free flow of traffic on the express
way. This is because, in forming two
queues in one direction, one lane of
the road is blocked and that disrupts
free flow of traffic on the express
way.
• Feedbacks of some of the
aforementioned problems and their
causes are noise and air pollutions to
the adjourning land uses.
Analysis of the Proximity of Stations
to Public/Semi Public Buildings in the
Neighbourhoods
Over eight (8) schools in the area
were found to be within 150m away
from each station. In the same manner
were also identified 4 shopping plazas, 5
health centres, 9 worship centres, 4
offices and 4 industries. These
public/semi public areas are therefore at
risk of hazards likely to emanate from
the stations because they were found
within the minimum standard radius of
150m away from petrol stations.
The risk of fire outbreak at the
stations is also very high because of the
High Tension Electric lines that
happened to cross over 11 of the 17
sampled stations in the area. (See Table
3 for details).

115
Table 3: Proximity of Stations to Public/Semi Public Buildings and Utility Lines (Approximate Distances)
S/N NAME
OF
STATION
LOC. DENSITY FED.
OR
STATE
ROAD
PROXIMITY OF STATIONS TO PUBLIC /SEMI PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN THE NEIBOUGHHOOD
High
Tension
To
property
line
(m)
Telephone
Line
To
property
line
(m)
School Shopping
Area
Hospital Worship
Centre
Office Industry
Name Dist.
(m)
Name Dist.
(m)
Name Dist.
(m)
Name Dist.
(m)
Name Dist.
(m)
Name Dist.
(m)
1 Conoil Mararaba High Federal Plaza
Peackastel
4 DHL Office,
Danel, &
Hasal Micro
Finance
Offices,
Alibro
Transport
Services
Office
30 -1 1
2 Total Mararaba High Federal Comoro
Int`l School
100 Metro
Clinic&
Maternity
300 -1
3 AP Mararaba High Federal Ronkus
Int`l School
200 HP Plaza 80 Bepos
Clinic &
Maternity
120 Assembles
Of God
100 -2 2
4 Oando Kurunduma Medium Federal RCCG 350 Vitaform 200 25 10
5 Texaco Kurunduma Medium Federal Excellent
Academy
250 Lafia
Clinic
350 God`s
Heart
Assembly
90 Kelvin &
Kelvin
Block
Industry
100 16 10
6 Fero de
Brothers Oil
Kurunduma Medium Federal Lyngra
Private
School
100 Apostolic
Church
Int`l
300 Entrepreneur
Enhancement
Centre
50 12 1
7 Ernmaco
Petroleum
Ado High Federal Standard
Nursery,
Primary and
High School
110 Great Jesus
Chapel
150 PHCN
Karu Local
Govt.
Secretariate
120
450
1
8 Conoil Ado High Federal Clinton
Montesorri
Academy
150 Destiny
Clinic
120 Sanctified
Life
Church
Peace
Chapel
3
100
Needs
Water
Industry
150 15 4
9 AP Ado High Federal POWA 10 Watchman 120 Police 4 15

116
Shopping
Plaza
Catholic
Movt
Charismatic
Renewal
Min
120
Station
10 Choice Ado Medium Federal Trust
Academy
250 BBC
Assembly
100 Block
Industry
80 12
11 Willno
Marketing
Ado Medium Federal Commanders
of Destiny
Coolege
300 Jubilation
House
100 Block
Industry
10 -1
12 So Mai
Sonka Lmt
Masaka Low Federal 100 70
13 Antonio Oil Masaka High Federal Sambridge
Academy
100 Nissi
Hospital
Ettal Clinic
Nasarawa
Primary
Health Care
Centre
100
200
100
-4
14 AP Masaka High Federal Govt Junior
Secondary
School
Masaka
110 Sarki
Hospital
100 RCCG 100 -6
15 Chanso Oil Kuchikau Low Federal Key Science
Academy
100 10
16 Oston Nig.
Lmt
Kuchikau Low Federal God`s Plan
Int`l School
80 Anglican
Church
Kuchikau
110 -1
17 No Name Kuchikau Medium Federal Nazareth
Baptist High
School
100 2
Note: The Negative Sign (-) indicates the level of encroachment of utilities over the first pump in the filling stations.

117
Analysis of Setbacks and Adjourning
Land Uses from Gasoline
Service Stations
A setback of filling station from
the surrounding environment is very
important in determining the magnitude
of possible impact on the immediate
surroundings. In this case, the existing
setbacks; right, left and rear and their
adjoining land uses and also setbacks
from roads were identified and
discussed.
From Table 4, it can be seen that
about 13.7 % adjourning land uses had
their setbacks to be less than 3 metres,
that is to say, they are closer to danger
than if setback had been really enough.
Also, as indicated in Planning Criteria
(http://www.nrca.org/business/guidelines
/petroleumstorage/PlanningCriteriaLocat
ionPetrolFillingStation.pdf), Petrol
stations shall if otherwise, be located a
minimum of 100ft. (30m) from any
residential building, but this research
shows that 100% of the adjourning
residential areas were found to be within
the danger zone of less than the set
standard.
Going by the Karu Area Planning
and Development Authority’s guideline
for Petrol Stations, Petrol Stations must
be located within commercial zones. But
this research, to one’s dismay, as shown
on Table 5, shows that the adjourning
land uses to petrol stations in the areas
were 29.4% Residential, 2.0% Public
Areas, 2.0% Administrative, 15.7%
Vacant Plots, 2.0% Industrial, 11.8%
Residential/ Commercial (Mixed Land
uses) and 2.0% commercial/Public
(Mixed Land Uses). Only 35.3% of the
adjourning land uses were fully
commercial areas.

118
Table 4: SETBACKS OF PETROL STATIONS FROM SURROUNDING BUILDINGS AND ROADS
S/N
NAME OF
STATION
SETBACKS FROM SURROUNDING BUILDINGS AND ROADS (Approximate)
Right Left Rear Roads
Land Use Distance
(m)
Land Use Distance
(m)
Land Use Approx
Distance
(m)
Road
Type
Distance (m)
Centre Line
of Road to
Property
Line
1 Conoil Commercial
(Petrol Station)
14 Commercial/Public 2 Commercial 6 Express
Collector
24
12
2 Total Commercial 6 Vacant Plot Nil Residential 6 Express 19
3 AP Commercial
(Petrol Station)
15 Commercial 3 Residential 4 Express 20
4 Oando Commercial (Petrol
Station)
3 Vacant Plot Nil Residential 50 Express 45
5 Texaco Commercial (Petrol
Station)
3 Commercial (work
shop)
7 Residential 5 Express 17
6 Fero de
Brothers Oil
Residential (Hotel) 1 Commercial (work
shop)
7 Ernmaco
Petroleum
Residential/Commercial 0 Commercial 1 Residential 10 Express 15
8 Conoil Public (Church) 3 Commercial 3 Industrial 6 Express 18
9 AP Administration (Police
Station)
24 Commercial (Petrol
Station)
10 Choice Commercial (Petrol
Station)
3 Residential (Hotel) 1 Vacant Plot Nil Express 20
11 Willno Commercial (Petrol 0 Vacant Plot Nil Residential 20 Express 17

119
Marketing Station)
12 So Mai
Sonka Lmt
Commercial (Welding
Work Shop)
10 Recreational 2 Vacant Plot Nil Express 16
13 Antonio Oil Commercial (Petrol
Station)
10 Residential/Commercial 3 Residential 6 Express 18
14 AP Commercial) (Petrol
Station)
4 Residential/Commercial 4 Residential 6 Express 16
15 Chanso Oil Vacant Plot Nil Residential 6 Residential 20 Express 18
16 Oston Nig.
Lmt
Residential 20 Vacant Plot Nil Vacant Plot Nil Express 18
17 No Name Commercial 15 Residential/Commercial 15 Residential/
Commercial
15 Express 14

120
Table: 5 Adjourning Land Uses to Petrol Stations in the Area
DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
From the survey in this study, the
researchers therefore realises that the
locational impact of gasoline service
stations on Abuja-Keffi Road and
Environs is not to be undermined as the
analysis clearly showed the diverse and
adverse impacts of the locations of petrol
filling stations.
From the studies, it was found
that more impacts could likely be on Ado
than the other four settlements because
more petrol stations were found there
than the others. The intervals between
stations did not also comply with the
standard set by KAPDA of 450m
interval as shown in Table 2, which
means that impacts of the stations were
concentrated in some areas than others.
Problems that could emanate as a
result of the concentration of stations in
those areas as identified from interview
are Road traffic problems like traffic
jams, traffic law violations and road
traffic accidents which has devastating
effects on the residents of Karu and other
users of the road. There is also noise and
air pollution impacts on the community
from the concentrations of vehicles.
However the gasoline service
stations render useful services to the
community other that petrol retailing and
other vehicle related services, these
services include mini mart, catering
services and supply of potable water and
toilet services. The stations were also
being utilised as bus stops and shades to
the community and other road users.
CONCLUSION
It is pertinent to note that the
need and the subsequent distribution of
fuels in cities and homes have resulted in
the establishment and proliferation of
fuel service station in towns and cities
today. Even though the supply of fuel,
which is a major source of energy, is
needful and important for the economic
growth and development of every
country, its negative impacts from the
processes of fuel retailing should not be
overlooked. In Karu community,
Land Use Type Number Percentage
Commercial 18 35.3
Residential 15 29.4
Public 1 2.0
Administrative 1 2.0
Industrial 1 2.0
Commercial/Residential 6 11.8
Commercial/Public 1 2.0
Vacant Land 8 15.7
TOTAL 51 100.0

121
proliferation of the stations is going on at
an alarming rate due perhaps to
population growth and increase in the
acquisition and use of automobiles,
office/industrial machines and other
domestic equipment which consume
these fuels.
However, this study revealed that
the establishment and location of these
service stations in various parts of the
study area is going on without due regard
to planning criteria, safety and
environmental considerations. Service
stations in the area were often built with
little or no compliance to planning
regulation, lack of the implementation of
standards and recommended practice the
failure of which affects human directly
or indirectly. These therefore remain a
source of concern to all, but do we then
fold our hands and watch these problems
erode humans and their living
environment? There is a need therefore
for plans and actions to tackle the
situation for today and the future. That is
then the perspective of sustainable
development in physical planning: how
the environment could contain
development without getting destroyed
in the process. Thus, it relates to
precautionary measures taken to evaluate
the impact of any development on the
environment. The idea here is that any
change introduced into the environment
should not facilitate its destruction and
consequently hazardous to human.
RECOMMENDATIONS
For the purpose of mitigating the
existing locational impacts on the
environment and also for the purpose of
future development, recommendations
are made base on the findings from the
study and also views of respondents
toward mitigating such impact on the
environment. The following
recommendations are made:
A detailed Site Analysis in
consultation with KAPDA prior to
development of petrol stations
should be mandatory, that is to
ensure that the scale of the station`s
buildings is related to the scale,
character and form of adjourning
structures and the activities of the
area. This is to also ensure an
attractive development which
integrates in safety of the populace
and also compliments the
surroundings. In view of the above,
the following should be considered:
i. Public/semi public areas within
150m radius of Petrol stations
should either the public buildings
or the station, comparatively be
considered for relocation from the
area.
ii. The station shall be setback to at
least 45m from the street centre
line to the station`s property line if
the street is an Express-way, and
30m if it is a collector road.
Service station`s pumps shall be a
minimum of 30m from adjoining
Residential building if total
relocation is found difficult. In
commercial areas, the structures
shall be set back to, at least 3m
from adjoining property.
iii. Stations likely to cause any traffic
problem in relation to road type,
road intersections, U-turns and

122
density of an area should be
relocated. No access to nor egress
from a filling station shall be closer
than 45m to any road intersection
or 76m from the intersection of
two main roads.
iv. High tension electricity line that
crosses directly over fuel pumps or
very close to it should be realigned
or the station should be redesigned
in such a way that sparkling or
falling down of the electricity line
will not ignite the fuel pump.
The road and traffic management
authorities should be consulted for
specific details relating to driveway
crossing and the likes: this is to
make sure that:
i. Tankers will be able to enter and
leave the site in forward direction
ii. Tankers will be able to deliver fuel
to a site without reversing. If this is
not possible there must be enough
room on site to safely manoeuvre
the tanker into its loading position.
iii. Parking is prohibited in areas
where tankers access
iv. Tankers should be able to be
positioned so they are not
vulnerable to accidental damage
from other vehicles while on site.
The planning authority should
consequently have the benefit of
sufficient information on the likely
effects and of the opinion of the
Ministry of Environment and
Department of Petroleum Resources
(DPR) before planning decision is
taken. Base on these, Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA) should be
required from applicants developing
petrol stations depending on the
nature of the site or terrain as shown
on Site Analysis Report of the
stations.
In order to minimise excessive
traffic generation, shop areas in
excess of 40m² shall not normally be
permitted. Retailing activities shall
be confined to the shop floor area.
Also all dispensing pumps must be
functional and if possible networked
so as to avoid queue generation
thereby reducing or even eliminating
high traffic generation to the area.
Stations in the study area that were
developed side-by-side to each other
and workshops around a station that
use fire e.g. welding workshop
should all be relocated.
REFERENCES
Abdul, H., Suriatini I., & Remy M.
(2009). Site Potentiality of Petrol
Stations Based on Traffic Counts.
Centre for Real Estate Studies
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
Paper presented at the European
Real Estate Society’s Conference,
Stockholm, Sweden. Retrieved from
http://www.eres2009.com/papers/6J
Traffic%20counts%20of%20petrol
%20station-1.pdf).
Karu Area Planning Development
Authority (2007). KAPDA
Development Control Standards and
Regulations for Greater Karu Area
Planning and Development
Authority. Planning Criteria (n.d.).
Retrieved from http://www.nrca.org/
business/guidelines/petroleumstorag

123
e/Planning Criteria
LocationPetrolFillingStation.pdf).
Louis CU and Uchegbu, SN (1997)
Principle and Procedures of
Environmental Impact Assessment,
Computer Edge publishers. 26
otasunmi St. Ejigbo Lagos. Pp102
Michael, KB (2008) Analysis of
Environmental Hazard of Gasoline
Service Station in Jimeta, Adamawa
State. Unpublished M.URP Thesis
submitted to the Department of
Urban and Regional Planning,
Federal University of Technology,
Yola
Omole, FK (2001) Locational Analysis
of Petroleum Filling Stations in
Akure-Nigeria. Int. J. Transport
Studies. Vol 1 (1) pp 113-114
Smart, N.U. (2002). Environmental
Management and Protection,
Spotlite Publishers, pp. 113-114.
Vivan EL, (2010) Socio-Economic
impact of Kaduna Refining and
Petrochemical Company on Rido
Area of Kaduna Metropolis.
Unpublished M.Sc Thesis submitted
to the Department of Geography and
Planning, University of Jos, Jos,
Nigeria
Yuk L., & Schmidt C. G. (1980). A
comparative location analysis of a
retail activity: The Gasoline Service
Station, The Annals of Regional
Science Journal, Vol. 14 No. 2, pp.
65-76.

Blamah service stations locational impact assessment of gasoline

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (19)

Similar to Blamah service stations locational impact assessment of gasoline

Similar to Blamah service stations locational impact assessment of gasoline (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Blamah service stations locational impact assessment of gasoline