RENEVLYN Development Initiative (RDI) has called on the Federal and Delta State governments as well as relevant agencies to compel the Nigeria Gas InfrastructureCompany (NGIC) to mobilise immediately to clamp the gas leak and black oil spewing into the farmlands and river of a Delta community.
This followed the alarm raised by the community over gas leak from NGIC pipeline in the areas. The development was observed by RDI field monitors in the oil-rich state.
Executive Director of RDI, Philip Jakpor said: “Our team learnt that the gas pipeline that is spewing the black oily substance and gas was constructed over 30 years ago; hence, its integrity comes to question.
“This incident resembles many others across the Niger Delta, where spills occur and are allowed to continue for months and, in some cases, years, resulting in major disasters before intervention came. The government at federal and state levels should compel NGIC to mobilise to site and stop this environmental assault.”
RDI also demanded that the NGIC be compelled to replace its aged pipes that have the tendency to rupture and cause havoc in the peaceful community.
It urged governments to carry out a comprehensive investigation and environmental audit to ascertain the impact of the leaks on the environment, especially the river.
The group also demanded compensation for locals who suffered losses from the leak, and for NGIC to strengthen its relationship with the community to ensure seamless communication and addressing of community concerns.
Oregha community in Uvwie Local Council of Delta hosts two pipelines owned and managed by NGIC, a gas transportation company with an extensive network of gas pipelines spanning over 2,500km across 11 states of the federation and reaching more than 350 host communities.
Locals told RDI monitors that in the later part of 2023, they started noticing that one of the gas pipelines in the bush was making a whistling noise and spraying gas and sand into the atmosphere. At the time, they had reported the incident to the NGIC Community Relations Committee (CRC), which promised to convey the findings to the company.
Chairman of Oregha Community, Mackson Edeki, a fisherman told RDI monitors that after the initial attempt to get the attention of the NGIC through the report to the NGIC CRC, he continued to observe developments in the environment until he noticed corrosive chemical in the Oregha River.
According to him, the black oil spilling into the community farmlands has spoilt many traps and now polluting the river. Chairman of NGIC CRC in Uvwie, Omafume Amurun, said: “We have made every attempt to get the NGIC to take action before the leak causes a major disaster, but to no avail. There is apprehension in the community that a fire or any other incident may happen. We are also worried that the spill might engulf the entire Oregha River and affect the livelihoods of local fisherfolks. We do not want the situation to degenerate to that; hence, our outcry that the NGIC should come and clamp the ruptured point.”
