Residents of Bille Community in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State have appealed for urgent government intervention six months after a gas leak affected several parts of their area.
They say the incident has continued to threaten their health, destroy water sources, and damage the environment.
The call was made during a news briefing in Port Harcourt where a documentary titled, From Extraction to Eruption: Oil, Gas and the Unfolding Environmental and Health Crisis in Bille Kingdom, produced by civil society group Social Action, was presented.
Chairman of the Bille Kingdom Council of Traditional Rulers, Chief Bennett Okpokiye-Dokubo, said the situation requires immediate action from the Federal Government and oil companies operating in the area.
He called for the supply of clean drinking water, proper environmental checks, medical support for affected residents, and urgent steps to contain dangerous zones. He stated that evacuation plans should be considered if the situation worsens.
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While appreciating the Rivers State Government for donating one hundred million naira as palliative support, he noted that the crisis goes beyond financial assistance.
Secretary of the Bille Kingdom Council of Chiefs, Luckyman Egila, urged regulators and international bodies to ensure oil companies are held accountable.
Environmental groups also raised concern that six months after the incident, no company has accepted responsibility for the affected pipelines.
They called for transparent investigations, release of findings, and full cleanup of the polluted environment to protect lives and restore the community.
