South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Benjamin Takpiny
The United South Sudan Party (USSP) on Friday warned the government to investigate the construction of petrol stations near residential areas and other public places in Juba.
“We the United South Sudan Party in Central Equatoria State are so worried about the lives of our people, concerning the numerous and continuous construction of petrol stations alongside the main roads, residential areas, schools, hospitals and police stations,” said Yohana Lasu Thomas Ida the secretary of USSP in Central Equatoria state in a statement.
Lasu said the construction of petrol stations is unregulated, adding that business people are driven by profit at the expense of human lives.
“This continuous projects of constructing petrol stations in the mentioned locations without considering possible protection, health and environmental measures in place, will negatively affect the lives of residents of Central Eguatoria State, and we demand for immediate investigation by the concerned government institutions and also halt of these projects to prevent further damage of lives and properties,” said Lasu.
He said that petrol stations need to be far from the residential areas, schools, hospitals, police stations, markets and public places.
“We are calling on the government of Central Equatoria state to suspend issuance of operation license to the petrol stations near the mentioned places, review and scrutinize any new projects of the petrol stations before giving a permission to proceed with the project,” said Lasu.
He said that USSP remains committed to advocate for free, safe and just society to all residents of Central Equatoria state.
Members of the national legislative assembly raised a motion last week about the existence of petrol stations in residential areas and other public places.
The MPs called on Juba city council and the ministries of petroleum, environment to be summoned to explain why petrol stations are being built in residential areas in Juba.