Owaza Youth Protest Gas Flare Harzard

The Owaza Youth
Association in Abia State has called on relevant government authorities and multi-national oil companies to take immediate measures to end gas-flaring in the community.
The President of the Association, Mr Martins Noah, said at Owaza in the Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, that the gas being flared in the community had created health challenges in the area.
Specifically, Noah said that skin and respiratory diseases had become rampant in the area due to the gas flaring.
“Apart from the health problem, gas flaring also affects our economic trees, crops, water; and it shortens the life span of roofing sheets in the area,’’ he said.
Noah appealed to the Abia State Government and relevant government agencies to prevail on the Shell Petroleum Development Company to stop gas flaring in the area and save the lives of the inhabitants.
He, however, admitted that the community enjoyed good rapport with Shell, saying that the company had executed some people-oriented projects in the community.
Noah explained that the community and Shell recently signed a Project Memorandum of Understanding (PMoU) for the execution of more projects in the area, including award of scholarships to Owaza youths.
He said that project execution by the company in the area, were usually done through the “Cluster Development Board”, comprising the State Government, the Local Government Council and host communities.
On the ongoing construction of a 50-kilometre gas pipeline from Obite in Rivers to Owaza by Total E&P Nigeria Ltd., he said that the company had also signed a PMoU with host communities for mutual benefits.
He assured that youths in the area would collaborate with Total to ensure realisation of the project, urging the company to abide by the terms of the agreement.
Noah said that the problem of youth restiveness in the area had been checked through collaborative efforts of federal and State Governments, security agencies and the association.