Prominent Rivers State figure and NDC gubernatorial aspirant, Alabo Dumo Lulu-Briggs, is calling for an independent investigation into the environmental crisis in Bille Community within the Degema Local Government Area (LGA).
The man urged that scientists and engineers should be given the chance to investigate the incident independently and without hindrance.
In a press release issued Friday, the politician called the environmental crisis a threat to public safety, health, and livelihoods, noting that although the cause of the environmental problem was yet to be determined, the need of the moment was ensuring the safety of the affected community and controlling the threat.
He warned against making assumptions about the cause of the problem, saying that there should be room for proper investigation by the appropriate regulatory agencies.
He said that the people of Bille have the right to know the cause of the environmental crisis, its impact on their safety and steps taken towards restoring the situation.
Lulu-Briggs has therefore called on the Federal Government, Rivers State Government, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Degema Local Government Council, leaders of Bille community and relevant oil companies to develop an emergency response framework for the situation.
He stated that efforts should first concentrate on ensuring that people have access to clean drinking water and other forms of assistance, including healthcare, while working to identify the cause of danger and bringing it under control. Lulu-Briggs also urged for scientific results to be presented in an easily understandable form to the public and environmental compensation where liability can be established.
According to the NDC gubernatorial candidate, this case must become a warning about the risks involved with old and abandoned oil and gas equipment throughout the Rivers state and the Niger Delta region.
The politician stressed that obsolete pipelines, abandoned wells, aging flowlines and other oil facilities must not pose a threat anymore.
Lulu-Briggs further urged the need for dedication to environmental justice and sustainable management of Nigeria’s natural resources because the affected communities cannot be expected to suffer the brunt of environmental risks without any action being taken.
