Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has called for the urgent and permanent resolution of the gas leakage affecting Bille Community in Degema Local Government Area, pledging to upgrade the community’s Primary Healthcare Centre to better respond to health challenges arising from the incident.
The governor made the commitment on Wednesday during an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting at Government House, Port Harcourt, involving representatives of the Federal Government, Rivers State Government, regulatory agencies, industry operators and leaders of Bille Kingdom.
The meeting reviewed the environmental and health implications of the gas leakage and explored measures to mitigate its impact on residents.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Fubara said the state government had been working closely with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and industry operators to determine the cause of the incident and ensure a lasting solution.
“The meeting is in respect of the situation in Bille. You’re aware that there is a case of gas leakage somewhere in Bille and the people have been making requests that government should come to their rescue,” the governor said.
He explained that officials had visited the affected community alongside federal authorities and industry operators, adding that the enlarged meeting was convened to enable all stakeholders jointly examine the problem and agree on practical solutions.
Fubara described the discussions as productive and expressed confidence that further actions in the coming weeks would lead to the complete resolution of the crisis.
He also announced that the Bille Primary Healthcare Centre would be upgraded to improve healthcare delivery and address medical concerns linked to the environmental incident.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, who led the Federal Government delegation, commended Governor Fubara for his prompt intervention and support.
Ekpo dismissed claims that the Federal Government had been indifferent to the situation, stating that experts were deployed immediately after the incident was reported to investigate its cause.
He noted that the investigation proved challenging because there were no known oil or gas facilities close to the site of the gas seepage, making detailed scientific studies necessary.
“The investigation is still ongoing, but we came back to engage the people of Bille because their cooperation is essential for us to arrive at a lasting solution,” he said.
According to the minister, the safety and welfare of the people remain the Federal Government’s top priority, assuring residents that every effort would be made to eliminate the danger posed by the gas seepage.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, assured the community that the commission would continue working with operators to address the situation.
She disclosed that plans were underway to provide potable water and fire trucks to the affected community as part of immediate intervention measures.
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 sustained government intervention to protect lives and livelihoods.
The gas leakage in Bille has raised concerns over environmental safety and public health, prompting coordinated efforts by federal and state authorities to identify its source and implement a permanent solution.
