The people of Gbaramatu Kingdom has called on the Federal Government and all the relevant agencies to urgently save the kingdom from pollution occasioned by a fresh gas explosion along the Escravos to Warri Gas Pipeline owned by the Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company Limited.
This call was made today 4th December 2017 by Mr. Edwin Odudu, a representative of the affected communities in a chat with GbaramatuVoice.
According to him, the residence of Ikpokpo community, Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area observed in the early hours of Saturday, 2nd of December, 2017 that there was massive emission of gas into the environment throughout the weekend before the line was shut down by the company.
The owner of the faciltiy according to him is the Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company Limited formally known as the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC).
Mr. Odudu further told our correspondent that they became worried and decided to make this call because the Nigerian Gas Company has a penchant for not obeying the laws or doing the right thing.
The community leader further recalled that there was an earlier explosion of the same gas pipeline on the 25th of August, 2017 within the same environment.
However, despite meeting with NOSDRA officials and community representatives, the company carried out the repairs of the leaked gas pipeline while using the military to intimidate the community and at the end, did not carry out a joint investigation visit to ascertain the cause of the explosion.
He added that even when a joint investigation visit was carried out, officials of the Nigerian Gas Company arrogantly refused to sign the relevant JIV forms.
While talking about the communities affected in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Odudu listed their names as follows; Ikpokpo, Okpele-Ama, Otogbene, Atanba and Opuedebubor communities.
He, therefore, appealed to President Buhari; the Minister of Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu; the Senate and the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr. Baru to come to their rescue.
He finally stated that the residents of the communities are now living in fear of imminent fire outbreak from the gas explosion with the Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company not showing any concern over the plight of the affected communities.
Support Quality Journalism in the Niger Delta Region
Join us in our mission to bring development journalism, cultural preservation, and environmental awareness to the forefront. Your contribution makes a difference in the lives of the people of the Niger Delta. Donate today and be a part of the change!
