…Promises PHC Upgrade
By Daniel Abia, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has called for the speedy and permanent resolution of the gas leakage in Bille Community, Degema Local Government Area, assuring residents of the government’s commitment to addressing the environmental and health challenges caused by the incident.
The governor also pledged to upgrade the Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in the community to strengthen its capacity to respond to the health needs of residents.
Fubara made the commitment on Wednesday during an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting involving representatives of the Federal Government, the Rivers State Government and leaders of the affected community. The meeting was convened to review the situation in Bille and explore sustainable solutions to the environmental pollution affecting the area.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the governor acknowledged the efforts of the Federal Government and its agencies to determine the root cause of the gas leakage and ensure a lasting solution.
“The meeting is in respect of the situation in Bille. You are aware that there is a case of gas leakage somewhere in Bille, and the people have been calling on the government to come to their rescue and resolve the situation.
“As a state, we have visited the community alongside industry operators and officials of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources. What we are doing today is bringing all stakeholders together to examine the cause of the problem and identify the best way to resolve it permanently,” Fubara said.
He described the outcome of the meeting as fruitful, expressing optimism that additional actions would be taken in the coming weeks to fully address the situation.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, who led the Federal Government’s delegation, commended Governor Fubara for his hospitality and proactive response to the crisis.
Ekpo dismissed claims that the Federal Government had neglected the incident, stating that efforts had been ongoing to identify and resolve the cause of the gas seepage.
He explained that experts were deployed to the area immediately after the incident was reported, noting that investigations had been challenging because there were no known oil or gas facilities close to the affected location.
“The investigation is still ongoing, but we decided to return to engage with the people of Bille Community because their cooperation is critical to achieving a lasting solution.
“The safety of the people is paramount. We understand their anxiety and the danger posed by this situation, but the Federal Government remains committed to finding a permanent solution. The primary responsibility of government is to protect the welfare and security of the people, and that is why we are here,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, assured residents that the commission and industry operators would spare no effort in resolving the crisis.
She said the NUPRC, in collaboration with operators, was prepared to address some of the immediate needs of the affected community, including the provision of potable water and fire trucks.
Earlier, the Public Relations Officer of the Council of Chiefs, Bille Kingdom, Chief Rena Dappa, outlined the challenges facing the community and appealed to the Federal and Rivers State governments to intervene urgently to protect the lives and livelihoods of residents.
