The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Kwara on Friday said it had no power to effect the demolition of petrol stations.

The Operation Controller of DPR in the state, Mr Amos Jokodola, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin.

Jokodola said the agency could only recommend filling stations that posed a danger to the appropriate authorities.

He said the department had compiled a list of erring stations and handed this to the state Town Planning Development Authority for appropriate action.

"We lack power to demolish any structure seen to be contravening the building code, we can only recommend to the town planning authority, " Jokodola said.

The DPR also stated that the department was only confined to the issuance of operational licence of the stations.

He added that the Town Planning Authority was the agency legally empowered to demolish structures that posed danger to members of the public.

"We are aware of the state House of Assembly's visit to some petrol stations in Ilorin following a public outcry on the way they were built.

"Before now, we had identified and compiled the list of the affected stations and handed this over to the state Town Planning Development Authority," he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that members of the House of Assembly had recently inspected some stations in the metropolis believed to be posing a threat to residents. (NAN)