Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has called for the immediate and permanent resolution of the gas leakage affecting Bille Community in Degema Local Government Area, while pledging to upgrade the community’s Primary Healthcare Centre to strengthen its capacity to respond to health emergencies linked to the incident.
The governor made the commitment on Wednesday during an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt, attended by representatives of the Federal Government, Rivers State Government, relevant regulatory agencies, industry operators and leaders of the affected community.
The meeting reviewed the environmental and public health implications of the gas seepage and explored coordinated measures to address the situation.
Speaking after the meeting, Fubara said the state government had already undertaken an assessment of the affected area alongside officials of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and industry operators, adding that the enlarged meeting was aimed at identifying the root cause of the leakage and agreeing on practical steps towards a lasting solution.
He said the discussions were productive and expressed confidence that further actions to be taken in the coming weeks would lead to the full resolution of the problem.
The governor also acknowledged the commitment of the Federal Government and its agencies, noting that efforts were underway to thoroughly investigate the incident despite the absence of known oil and gas infrastructure around the location of the seepage.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, who led the Federal Government delegation, commended Governor Fubara for his proactive response and collaboration in addressing the crisis.
Ekpo dismissed claims that the Federal Government had neglected the incident, explaining that experts were deployed immediately after reports of the gas seepage emerged to investigate its source.
He said the unusual nature of the incident had made investigations more complex because there were no existing oil or gas facilities in the immediate area, necessitating more detailed scientific studies.
According to the minister, investigations are still ongoing, while government officials also engaged community leaders to secure their cooperation in achieving a sustainable solution.
He stressed that protecting the lives and safety of residents remained the Federal Government’s top priority, assuring the people of Bille that every effort was being made to eliminate the danger posed by the gas leakage.
Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the commission was committed to resolving the crisis in collaboration with industry operators.
She disclosed that plans were underway to provide immediate support to the community, including the supply of potable water and fire-fighting equipment to reduce risks while investigations continue.
Earlier, the Public Relations Officer of the Council of Chiefs, Bille Kingdom, Chief Rena Dappa, outlined the environmental and health challenges confronting residents and appealed for urgent government intervention to protect lives and livelihoods.
The gas seepage in Bille has raised concerns over environmental safety and public health, prompting joint intervention by federal and state authorities as investigations continue into its cause.
