Gas flaring: Akwa Ibom group commends FG for sanctioning oil companies, others

Dennis Udo-Udoma, Uyo

Oil producing communities in Akwa Ibom have commended the Federal Government for imposing penalty on oil multinational companies flaring gas in Nigeria.

The latest came from Akwa Ibom Oil Producing Community Development Network (AKIPCON); a Non – Governmental, Socio – economic, Environmental and Human Rights organization in Akwa Ibom State.

The group, in a statement issued to newsmen in Uyo on Friday and jointly signed by the President – General, Dr. Ufot Phenson and Secretary – General, Evangelist Emmanuel Bassey described Federal Government order as a demonstration of it’s determination to ensure the security and well-being of the citizenry in oil producing communities are protected, as first line charge of any responsible government.

They noted that, the ongoing gas flaring in the Niger Delta region coupled with oil spills are some of the harmful activities of these companies since 1950s; which resulted in devastation of the environment, poverty and dilapidation of buildings making people in the area, especially Akwa Ibom to suffer unduly without any payment of compensation.

The President – General also made reference to the recent environmental studies by a group in Akwa Ibom observing that, gas flaring which is synonymous to oil exploration has generated some volatile organic compounds (Benzenes/Hexanes) believed to be threats to human health.

According to the group, “due to gas flaring, farmlands in OML 13/Qua Iboe Oil Fields have recorded poor yeilds from crops owing to the continuous gas flaring and emissions, while mangrove forests have been sevely impacted resulting in the loss of mangroves and aquatic terrestrial biodiversity”.

He further maintained that, the penalty imposed by the Federal Government on the oil companies is a welcome development and proof of their guilt.

They called on the Federal Government to prevail on the oil/gas companies in the country to convert wasted flared gas into generating electricity for domestic use.

Others are; pay compensation to victims of gas flaring to alleviate suffering and restore the polluted and devastated environment in the state to be safe for habitation and development.

It would be recalled that, Federal Government had recently imposed a whopping N22 billion fine on oil and gas firms operating onshore in Nigeria for flaring 24b Standard Cubic Feet of gas valued at about N40 billion between January and February this year.

This followed the gas flare data by the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSRA); companies operating onshore to pay the penalties for violating the gas flaring rules.