Abstract:

This study, among other things, examined the extent of Akwa Ibom residents’ awareness of the dangers of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) sales and vending outlets within residential areas; as well as the influence of The Customer Protection Council’s Campaigns on Akwa Ibom residents’ awareness of the dangers of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) sales and vending outlets in residential areas. This study adopted the survey research design. The study’s population comprised 7,200,000 being the residents of Akwa Ibom State. The sample size of 400 was determined using the Yard’s formula, and the multistage sampling technique was used to select the respondents for the study. The instrument for data collection was a self-developed structured questionnaire designed with a 4-point Likert scale structure. The data were analysed using frequency distribution and simple percentages. The findings of the study showed that residents of Akwa Ibom State are significantly aware of the dangers of Compressed Natural Gas sales and vending around residential areas. The study also showed that Customer Protection Council’s campaigns on the dangers of CNG residential area sales and vending has significant positive influence on residents’ awareness and attitudes. Recommendations were made that to further enhance awareness, the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) should intensify community-based awareness campaigns, incorporating local influencers, grassroots organisations, and vernacular communication methods. This will address varying levels of awareness and ensure that critical safety messages reach underserved and vulnerable populations.