Residents in Sangama Community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State have raised concerns over the gas leakage from an oil and gas facility in the area.
It was gathered that the leak from the facility operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited (NPDC), was first noticed last week causing panic in the area.
The Youth Leader of Sangama Community, Iyalla John-Jumbo, said the community had contacted the company but they had yet to intervene.
Recounting a similar occurrence in the area in 2020, John-Jumbo said many residents had suffered from loss of smell and taste, while others were hospitalised from different symptoms of ailments.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Council Area, Dame Hon. Anengi Barasua Dagogo-Wilcox has called on the oil facility to institute proactive measures to salvage the gas leak rocking the Sangama community.
A statement by the Council’s deputy press secretary, Boma Waribor on Friday, said Dagogo-Wilcox who visited the affected area, noted that safety and quality control were working conditions that should not be compromised.
The LGA boss called on the oil company to ensure that there is no repeat of gas leakage around its facilities in Bonny.
An official of the NPDC, who received the local government delegation, explained that the gas flow had been shut down while assuring of his company’s commitment to remedy the situation.
