Pipeline Explosion: Rivers Community Laments Loss Of Livelihood

The people of Ubeta Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, have raised alarm over loss of their means of livelihood, following a pipeline explosion fire that ravaged their farmlands and live stock a month ago.
Paramount Ruler of the community, Chief Chimezie Nathaniel, who spoke with our correspondent on Wednesday, stated that the people of the community were facing unprecedented hardship including the loss of good health since the incident.
He noted that since the inferno occurred a month ago, no staff of the oil company involved had visited the area to ascertain the level of loss and damage caused by the explosion.
According to him, “ there’s no surveillance on the pipeline, no clean up or rehabilitation. Our fish ponds and other economic crops were destroyed due to the oil covering the ground. Our palm trees and other food crops were destroyed. We are a farming community and so, the loss of our farmlands has brought untold hardships on us as we can no longer go to the farm.’’
Chief Nathaniel also expressed concerns over the state of health of the people, particularly the children, saying, most of the children are being ravaged by cough’’.
He called on the oil company involved, to build and equip a hospital in the community to help alleviate their pains.
He also called on the oil companies operating in Ekpeye land to carry out enlightenment campaigns on pipeline explosions and fire incident to prevent future occurrences.
He appealed to the state government to prevail on the oil company involved, to come to the assistance of the people, saying, “although the Rivers State House of Assembly has tried to intervene, the community is yet to receive any compensation from the oil company”.
A visit to the community by our correspondent showed that farmlands and fish ponds could no longer be used as a result of the pipeline explosion.

Tonye Nria-Dappa