FG probes gas bubbling reports in Bille Community

The Federal Government has commenced a probe into reports of gas seepage observed in the ground and surrounding water bodies in Bille Community, within the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 corridor in Rivers State.

In a statement made available to journalists on Monday, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, acknowledged being in receipt of a briefings concerning the gas seepage.

The Minister went on further to reassure the public that the Federal Government has taken prompt and coordinated action to investigate and address the situation.

He revealed that following reports, relevant regulatory agencies and operators immediately activated a joint response mechanism.

"The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), together with operators active within the OML 18 area, commenced immediate field investigations to determine the source and nature of the occurrence."

"As part of the ongoing response, two joint investigation visits have already been conducted at the affected locations. During these inspections, relevant samples were collected and forwarded for laboratory analysis."

"Preliminary assessments conducted so far have not established any direct link between the bubbling and oil pollution, pipeline leakage, or other operational failures within the oil and gas infrastructure in the area."

"However, final laboratory results are being awaited to provide definitive scientific clarification," he revealed.

The Minister also ordered the NUPRC to intensify its technical investigations, undertake additional site visits, and maintain continuous monitoring of the affected locations.

The Commission, working closely with operators in the area, remains fully committed to identifying the exact source of the gas seepage and ensuring that appropriate remedial actions are taken swiftly once investigations are concluded.

He also urged residents of the affected communities to remain calm and cooperate fully with regulatory authorities and technical teams currently conducting field investigations, as the Government continues to safeguard lives, protect the environment, and ensure responsible petroleum operations across all producing regions of the country.