The residents of Azikoro and nearby settlements in Yenagoa Local Government Area in Bayelsa have expressed fears over air pollution within the environment because of the report of gas leakage.
It was learned that the air pollution is emanating from the ‘Ogboinbiri/OB-OB’ gas pipeline operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).
The residents told The Network that they started percieving the dangerous odour of the discharging gas on Monday and it has continued ceaselessly.
According to a surveillance personnel, Ike Napoleon, they percieved a deafening sound at the facility while on duty on that day.
“The gas leak is a thing of surprise because it is the first time such will occur, it was totally unexpected,” Napoleon said.
The paramount ruler of Azikoro community, Chief Clever Amadoko, said the lives of his people are in danger, as they’re exposed to the raw toxic gas.
The traditional ruler called on Agip to do the needful by immediately moving to site to stop the leak and stop the leaking point on the pipeline, stressing that “the leak is enormous.”
“We don’t know what has actually happened, whether it was caused by sabotage or not. But Agip should come quickly and shut-in the leak.
“Our lives are in danger, particularly those who are farming within the vicinity of the incident site.
“I call on Agip to immediately close the leakage. It is enormous. You cannot breathe very well, the whole atmosphere is polluted.” The monarch said.
The Bayelsa Commissioner for Environment, Mr Iselema Gbaranbiri, paid a visit to the site describing the incident as harmful to human lives and the ecosystem.
He disclosed that gas was seriously leaking under very high pressure stressing that the oil firm should plug the leak and save the environment from further damage.
“We are calling on NAOC to shut-in the leak to give room for Joint Investigation Visit (JIV).
“Gas is spewing very fast and with serious pressure, which is inimical to human health and even the ecosystem.
“You can see the vegetation is getting dry; farmlands are here, women and men that farm around here cannot come to their farms to harvest their crops.
“I, therefore, call on Agip to as a matter of urgency shut-in and call for immediate JIV.” The Commissioner said.
When contacted, the Italian parent company, Eni, declined comment on the incident but the Spokesman of the oil firm, however, stated that it’s only an investigation into the incident that would reveal what caused the leakage.
