Gas Eruption: RVHA Moves To Protect Citizens

Rivers State House of Assembly on Tuesday took steps to protect the people of Egi Clan in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area over the gas eruption in four communities.

The house mandated its committees on Environment, Energy and Natural Resources to ascertain the situation by visiting the affected areas.

Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree, directed the two committees to liaise with the commissioners of the ministries to find out the extent of the hazards to the people for necessary action that would bring succour to the communities.

This followed a motion by Hon. Gift Wokocha, member representing Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni constituency on matter of urgent public importance on the disaster in Egita, Obiebe, Obite and Ogbagu in  ONELGA as a result of gas eruption from Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited facility.

Hon. Wokocha reported that on April 2, 2012, there was a rig equipment failure belonging to total (E&P) Limited at Obite Gas Plant in Egi Clan which resulted in fire outbreak and to put the fire under control, the well was shut down by the company.

He further stated that the sudden shut down of the well caused blocking of gas and the outcome was the eruption of gas from the ground, circulating within the communities’ farm lands and fish ponds, while the people were barred from going to the farm or cooking for fear of possible fire that may devastate the area.

The lawmaker lamented the economic deprivation occasioned by fear, unsafe environment and distress that now pervade the area and appealed to the assembly to save his constituents.

Hon. Wokocha, therefore, prayed the house to invite the Managing Director of the company to appear before the assembly to explain measures taken so far to avert further deterioration of the situation.

He also called for the evacuation of the indigenes of the four affected communities, while the company be compelled to do everything technically possible to stop further spread of relief materials to reduce the level of hunger and starvation on the communities.

Debating the motion, leader of the House, Hon. Chidi Lloyd, Ikuiniyi Ibani, representing Andoni and Victoria Nyeche, Port Harcourt constituency I, sympathised with the people and wondered why the company had not taken steps two weeks after the incident.

They argued that the motion affected the existence of the people as host communities to the oil firm and urged the lawmakers to invite the company to appear before the house for questioning.

Also contributing, Hon Ben Horsfall, Asari Toru Constituency II, Augustine Ngo, Abua/Odual and Hon Nname Ewor, Ahoada East Constituency I, opted for a systematic approach involving all stakeholders like Mr President, Minister of Petroleum Affairs and members of the National Assembly representing the area to join forces to bring the situation under control.