Gas eruption stirs anxiety in Rivers oil communities

ANXIETY has gripped oil-bearing communities in Ogba/Egbema /Ndoni (ONELGA) Local Council of Rivers State over gas eruption.The eruption, it was learnt, occurred last week as a result of drilling by Total Exploration and ProductionNigeria Limited (TEPNG).The affected communities include Ogbogu, Egita, Obiyebe and Obite, all in ONELGA.The leaders of the communities under the aegis of Egi People's Assembly yesterday, during a press conference in Port Harcourt lamented the development, noting that it had devastated their farmlands, wetlands and other vital economic and environmental resources.In a joint statement read by the president of the group, Mr. Chris Onyiri, the people regretted that the eruption had thrown the entire communities into anxiety.The statement reads in part: 'There is palpable fear of contamination of air and underground water in the affected areas. This has thrown the entire Egi communities into trauma. There is also threat to the biodiversity of the area on which the livelihood of the communities depends.'Egiland produces the highest quantity of crude oil and gas, yet we are the most peaceful; so we do not deserve to go through such trauma, we want to acknowledge the presence of government.'The community leaders appealed to TEPNG to expedite mitigation in the area to avoid further damage.They further called on the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the Ministry of Environment and the Rivers State government to carry out an appropriate response to ensure the safety of lives and property in the communities.While urging the management of TEPNG to provide emergency relief materials, medical aid and communications facilities to the communities to speedily address the problems, they advised the Egi people to remain calm and adhere to emergency response actions and safety measures.Contacted, Manager, External Communications of TEPNG, Mr. Charles Onwu, said the company would soon issue a statement on the gas eruption so as put it in the right perspective.ONELGA has contributed immensely to the economic growth of the country through many oil and gas producing and servicing companies including the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), TEPNG, and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
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