Government to tackle gas leak problem in Niger Delta community

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has found that the first aquifer in Bille Community, located in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, is contaminated. This contamination is due to a toxic gas leak that has been affecting the area for almost a year.

In a statement on Thursday, NUPRC’s Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, shared this information during a visit to the affected community by a Federal Government team. The delegation was led by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo.

The team, which included officials from the Rivers State Government and oil and gas companies, first visited Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara before heading to Bille Community.

During their visit, NUPRC said the Federal Government provided relief materials to the residents. They promised immediate humanitarian assistance, including clean water, medical outreach, firefighting equipment, and support for electricity supply. They also assured the community that a long-term solution to the environmental crisis is coming.

Mrs Eyesan spoke during the visit and said the commission has started investigating the source of the gas leak. She said they are being careful to avoid causing more problems before they intervene.

“We have carried out preliminary investigations. But we are carefully managing the situation to prevent further hazards before any intervention. We have engaged an international firm to undertake the final studies, with fieldwork expected to commence before the end of July,” she said.

She also mentioned that technical experts from the oil and gas industry are working with the commission to find out where the seepage is coming from. She assured residents that they will get regular updates as the investigation moves forward.

First aquifer contaminated

Mrs Eyesan revealed that preliminary findings show that the community’s first aquifer is already contaminated. An aquifer is an underground layer that holds and can transmit usable groundwater.

“Our assessment indicates that the first aquifer has been contaminated. While we work on a long-term solution, we will provide clean water as quickly as possible,” she said.

This is the first clear official acknowledgment of groundwater contamination due to the long-lasting gas leak in this oil-producing community. This acknowledgment comes less than a month after a PREMIUM TIMES investigation on June 15 showed how a toxic gas eruption in multiple spots in Bille has disrupted the lives and livelihoods of community members for nearly a year.

During a visit to the community, the newspaper noticed several spots on the river where gas was escaping continuously. Water bubbled vigorously, looking like boiling liquid. Nearby signs showed that high-pressure gas pipelines transport crude oil and natural gas.

Bille is home to Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18, a major oil and gas block in the eastern Niger Delta. It covers about 1,035 square kilometers and has several oil and gas fields, including Cawthorne Channel, Akaso, and Alakiri. Shell Petroleum Development Company developed this asset before Eroton Exploration and Production Company took over in 2014.

Sadly, years of disputes, declining production, and old infrastructure have left much of the oilfield system abandoned or poorly maintained.

FG promises lasting solution

While addressing community leaders at the palace of the Amanyanabo of Bille Kingdom, Ingo Herbert, Mr Ekpo assured residents that the Federal Government is committed to figuring out the cause of the seepage and restoring the affected environment.

“Investigation into the root cause is ongoing, and the Federal Government is fully committed to resolving the issue. We will ensure the environment is safe and properly remediated. We are with you on this,” the minister said.

Earlier, Governor Fubara praised the coordinated response by the Federal Government and industry players. He assured residents that their concerns would get urgent attention.

“The Federal Government is doing everything possible to ensure that the gas seepage is brought under control. The requests for clean water, healthcare, and firefighting support have been noted and will be addressed,” the governor said.

He also ordered the immediate upgrade of the community’s primary healthcare facility to improve its ability to handle health emergencies related to the gas seepage.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Bille Council of Chiefs, Alabo Okpokia Dokubo, urged the government to quickly implement the promised help, saying residents deserve to benefit fully from the oil and gas resources in their community.