Gas seepage: FG visits Bille community, order emergency health upgrade
A federal government delegation has visited the Bille community in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State to deliver immediate humanitarian relief and pledge a comprehensive technical solution to the ongoing gas seepage crisis affecting the area.
The joint delegation led by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Senator Ekperike Ekpo, alongside the Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, and senior oil and gas operators held strategic briefings with the Rivers State Government before proceeding directly to the impacted community.
Receiving the delegation in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, commended the collaborative and prompt response of the federal authorities.
He assured residents that the state is fully aligned with federal efforts to bring the environmental situation under control.
Fubara immediately directed an upgrade of the primary healthcare facility within the Bille community to manage medical emergencies resulting from the gas emissions.
He noted that the community’s critical requests for clean water, enhanced medical outreach, and specialized firefighting equipment had been prioritized for swift execution.
At the palace of the Amanyanabo of Bille Kingdom, HRM Ingo Herbert, Senator Ekpo emphasized the administration’s resolve to address the root cause of the environmental disturbance.
“Investigation into the root cause is ongoing, and the Federal Government is fully committed to resolving the issue. We will ensure the environment is safe and properly remediated. We are standing firmly with you through this period,” the Minister stated.
Providing a technical roadmap on the crisis, NUPRC Chief Executive Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan explained that preliminary assessments indicate the area’s first aquifer has been contaminated.
To combat the immediate impact, the commission is fast-tracking the deployment of alternative potable water supplies and essential medical consumables.
Eyesan revealed that the regulatory body is deploying international expertise to ensure a definitive and safe resolution to the gas seepage without triggering secondary environmental hazards.
“We have carried out preliminary investigations; however, we are carefully managing the situation to prevent further hazards before executing physical interventions. We have engaged an international firm to undertake the final technical studies, with fieldwork expected to commence before the end of July,” Eyesan stated.
She added that a joint team of technical experts from across the oil and gas sector is working round the clock with the NUPRC, promising that the commission will maintain absolute transparency by providing regular milestones updates to the host community.
Reacting to the government’s pledges, the Chairman of the Bille Council of Chiefs, Alabo Okpokia Dokubo, urged the federal authorities and regulatory partners to expedite the execution of the promised relief and remediation frameworks, enabling the kingdom to safely realize the economic benefits of its abundant natural resources.