Tension over Gas Leakage in Delta Community

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

Palpable tension has enveloped Odidi community in Burutu local government area of Delta State over the discovery of a gas leakage allegedly from a facility belonging to Agip Oil Company in the area.

The leakage, it was learnt, was discovered about three months ago and the attentions of Agip Oil Company and National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) were drawn to it, but nothing has been done to tackle the spill.

In a statement at the weekend, the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), noted that there was an urgent need for the federal and Delta State governments as well as Agip Oil Company to immediately clamp the gas leakage from the Bemobebe-aka  Gas Well located in Odimodi community.
ERA/FoEN , in the statement signed by the communication officer, Elvirah Jordan, stated that it received a Save-Our-Soul (SOS) from the community on July 5th this year, lamenting the gas leakage.

“The Bemobebe-aka gas well is located at the outskirts of Odimodi Community, a route that is usually used by fishermen to carry out their fishing activities, and farmers to access their farm lands.”
The environment around the gas leakage, the group said, was very toxic and highly polluted, lamenting that the people of Odimodi are currently at risk of facing severe health implications from inhaling the gas that has circulated around the air space, coupled with the dangers of a fire outbreak.
“A fisherman, Brakemi Ndoro who first spotted and reported the leakage to the leadership of the community said the leakage was discovered about three months ago and suspected to be as a result of a broken valve from the gas plant.

“The Chairman of Odimodi Community, Solomon Gbegha revealed to ERA/FoEN that the leakage was reported to the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), followed by a joint inspection of the leakage by the community representatives and NOSDRA on the 26th of June 2023.

“According to the chairman, no other efforts have been made to shutdown the leakage after the inspection adding that the people of Odimodi are now living in fear, as the people have been instructed to stay clear of the gas leakage area until it has been turned off”, the group said.

Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, Chima Williams added:  ”The people of Odimodi are currently in distress. After surviving series of spills recorded in 2018 and 2022, they are suffering from yet another damage to their environment, in form of a gas leakage caused by Agip.

“Despite housing multinational companies, Odimodi has been neglected by these companies, hence the slow response to oil spills and gas leakages. The government needs to implement stringent policies that will regulate and manage the activities of oil multinationals in Odimodi and other host communities”, he said.

ERA/FoEN therefore called on Agip Oil Company to stop the leakage and also urged the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct an assessment of the level of air pollution in the area for immediate clean up.