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The Director-General, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Chief Chukwuemeka Woke, has called for immediate repair of a leaking well-head at Bukuma in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Woke made the call during a tour to evaluate the extent of the spill which occured on a facility operated by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).
He also called for a continuous surveillance of the operational areas by the NNPCL in order to prevent future incidents.
“On January 12, NOSDRA received reports of a fire outbreak at the well-head, which was attributed to excessive gas release.
“We are actively coordinating with the operator, and relevant stakeholders to extinguish the fire, and to mitigate its effects on the community.
The D-G further said that the agency was working with other stakeholders to provide relief materials to residents of the affected community.
Woke said that NOSDRA would thoroughly analyse the data collected during the tour and collaborate with stakeholders to bring the situation under control.
He reiterated the commitment of the agency towards ensuring that the welfare of the affected communities was promoted.
The spill, which was reported on Jan 1, involved a gas leak from the OML Well 8, operated by NNPCL.
Local security sources told newsmen that the spill was likely instigated by the actions of suspected pipeline vandals who attempted to illegally tap into the well-head.
Before the D-G’s visit, residents of Bukuma had raised an alarm over the gas leak and the resultant inferno that had affected their environment.
Analysts say that the NOSDRA D-G’s visit and promises of immediate action will provide some relief to the people of the community.
By Ikuru Lizzy
