Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has demanded quick and full resolution to the challenges arising from the gas leakage that occurred in Bille, Degema Local Government Area\u00a0 of the State.<\/p>\n
The governor has also pledged to upgrade the Primary Healthcare\u00a0 Centre (PHC) in Bille with a view to addressing the\u00a0 health challenges confronting\u00a0 the community.<\/p>\n
Fubara made the pledge on Wednesday at the Government House, Port Harcourt during an enlarged meeting of key stakeholders, comprising representatives of the Federal Government, the state government\u00a0 and leaders of the community.<\/p>\n
The meeting was held to review the situation in the community and explore available opportunities to save the people from the adverse impacts of environmental pollution.<\/p>\n
Addressing the journalists at the end of the meeting, the governor acknowledged the determination of the Federal Government and its agencies to get to the root cause of the problem in Bille and\u00a0 ensure that it is resolved permanently.<\/p>\n
“The meeting is in respect of the situation in Bille. You’re aware that there is a case of gas leakage somewhere in Bille and the people have been making some requests that the government should come to their rescue to resolve the situation.<\/p>\n
“As a state, we have gone to see the situation in the community, not alone but in conjunction with the industry operators and officials of\u00a0 the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources. What we are doing today is an enlarged meeting where all the parties are sitting together to look at the cause of the issue and the most possible way to get the problem resolved,” he said.<\/p>\n
Fubara described the outcome of the meeting as successful, stressing that more action would be taken in the next couple of weeks to ensure that the issue is fully resolved.<\/p>\n
The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo, who led the Federal Government’s delegation to the meeting, expressed appreciation to the governor for his warm hospitality and efforts to address the challenge in Bille community.<\/p>\n
Ekpo explained that contrary to the perception in certain quarters, the Federal Government has not been silent over the “gas seepage” but has been working tirelessly towards finding a sustainable solution.<\/p>\n
The minister explained that as soon as the incident was reported, the Federal Government deployed experts to the area to understudy the cause of the problem.<\/p>\n
According to him, it was difficult at first to understand the cause of the problem since there were no oil or gas infrastructure within the vicinity of the incident, hence the need to conduct a more detailed investigation.<\/p>\n
“The investigation is still going but we decided to do a follow-up visit to the area to talk to the people of Bille Community that we need collaboration on their part so that we would be able to arrive at a lasting solution.<\/p>\n
“The safety of the people is paramount. We can understand their anxiety,\u00a0 the worry and the danger that this thing poses within the area, but the Federal Government is committed to\u00a0 finding a lasting solution to the problem. The primary responsibility of government is to take care of the welfare and security of the people and that is exactly why we are here to go and see things for ourselves,” he said.<\/p>\n
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, also explained that as\u00a0 the regulatory agency\u00a0 at the centre of the issue, no effort will be spared in the task of resolving the issue.<\/p>\n
Eyesan pledged that the NUPRC and operators in the industry were prepared to address the requests of the impacted\u00a0 people in terms of the provision of potable water and fire trucks\u00a0 to\u00a0 the community.<\/p>\n
The Public Relations Officer, Council of Chiefs, Bille Kingdom, Chief Rena Dappa, had during the meeting, presented the\u00a0 challenges facing the community and pleaded for government’s support to save the lives and livelihoods of the people.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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