The federal government has assured immediate humanitarian assistance and a lasting solution to the gas leak plaguing Bille community in Degema LGA of Rivers state.
Ekperikpe Ekpo, minister of state for petroleum resources (gas), led a delegation to the riverine community on Wednesday. The team comprised Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, commission chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and representatives of oil and gas companies operating in the region.
Eniola Akinkuotu, NUPRC head of media and corporate communications, said in a statement issued on Thursday that the delegation first paid a courtesy visit to Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers governor, before proceeding to the affected community.
Videos went viral in March showing gas bubbles and steam emanating from bodies of water in the community. The clips raised fears over environmental safety, groundwater contamination and public health in the oil-producing community.
At the time, the NUPRC said it launched investigations into the incident.
Providing an update, Eyesan said preliminary findings had shown that one of the underground water sources in the area had been affected by the incident.
“We have carried out preliminary investigations. However, we are carefully managing the situation to prevent further hazards before any intervention. We have engaged an international firm to undertake the final studies, with fieldwork expected to commence before the end of July,” she said.
She added that technical experts from across the oil and gas industry had been mobilised to support the commission’s efforts.
The NUPRC chief reiterated the commission’s commitment to a scientific and transparent investigation into the source of the seepage.
Fubara directed the immediate upgrade of the community’s primary healthcare centre to enable it respond effectively to medical emergencies arising from the environmental incident.
The delegation also delivered relief materials to Bille community and pledged additional support, including the provision of potable water, intensive medical outreach programmes, medical consumables, firefighting equipment and support for electricity supply.
