Gas explosions: Bayelsa Assembly calls for relocation of Sangana community
By Bassey Williams, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has passed a three-point resolution calling on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), to as a matter of urgency, send relief materials and medical aid to Sangana Community in Brass local government area of the state.
It also called on National Assembly Members representing Bayelsa State to bring the issue on the floor of both Houses as a matter of urgent public importance, it further called on Federal and State Governments to save lives, by relocating the inhabitants of Sangana community to a safer area.
The resolution was sequel to a motion moved by Hon. Dr. Charles Daniel representing Brass Constituency 1 under matter of Urgent Public Importance, Hon. Daniel informed the House that the gas explosion which has lasted over four days has affected the livelihood of the people as predominant farmers and fishermen, stressing that the explosion has caused health hazards as the residents have deserted their communities.
He, therefore, called on CON Oil Nigeria Limited, in OML 59, Otuo Oil Field on Adratic Rig one and other relevant Agencies to step-up modalities to put off the leakages and curb the hazardous spread to Nembe, Ogbia, Southern Ijaw and other communities.
Speaking in favour of the motion Rt. Hon. Tonye Isenah and Honourables Tare Porri, Michael Ogbere, Bernard Kenebai, MacDonald Igbadiwei faulted the Nigerian Constitution for placing exploration activities in the exclusive list thereby depriving the state from legislating on issues that affects them directly.
They noted that most times occurrences such as this are as a result of equipment failure or negligence on the part of the oil companies but they always to explain it off as acts of sabotage on the part of the host communities.
Honourables Ebiuwou Koku Obiyai, Douglas Sampson-Awudulu, Godbless Oyinke, Salo Adikumoh and Teddy Elemeforo in their contributions called for immediate action to mitigate the effect of the explosion and also send relief materials and medical aid to the affected communities.
They also called for the sensitization of inhabitants to stay away from impacted areas pointing out that the explosion also has negative health hazards, such as difficulty in breathing and other cancerous illnesses.
