The Governor of Central Equatoria State on Monday directed the Juba City Council (JCC) to review the papers of all petrol stations in the city and check those that do not meet the required safety standards of operation.
This development comes after a fuel station in Juba’s Gumbo neighborhood caught fire on Sunday night.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Angelo Day, the Central Equatoria State Security and Peace Advisor, said the meeting resolved to swiftly review the papers of all petrol stations within Juba City and to evaluate their safety standards.
“The governor called a meeting of officials from the city council and security organs to discuss the illegal petrol stations that have been constructed without proper documentation in the city. A committee was formed by the governor to revisit and identify the petrol stations that are situated in residential areas and are a risk,” he said. “Those who rented their places out to companies that erected petrol stations are advised not to anymore and not have any agreements.”
Day added: “The Government of Central Equatoria State and JCC will identify those areas and give them notification.”
He said the meeting further resolved to break illegal structures on all road reverses and strongly warned the illegal occupants of markets to swiftly vacate or face the full force of the law.
Day also urged Juba residents to refrain from rampant littering and directed the JCC and security forces to implement the directive.
“Some people decided to move out of their houses and decided to construct on public roads. Some people have built markets which are not properly demarcated,” he stated. “The committee will also visit the markets and public roads and advise the people to vacate because roads are for public use and the markets should be organized.”
The advisor also warned all hotel proprietors against polluting the Nile.