The Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) now known as Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company has been given a two-week ultimatum by six Gbaramatu-Ijaw communities in Delta State affected by the August 25 gas explosion along the Escravos to take remedial steps and compensate the victims to avoid its operations being shut down.
The communities, which include Ikpokpo, Okpele-Ama, Otogbene, Atanba in Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State, and led by Mr. Godwin Akori and Edward Odudu, said their warning followed “forceful repairs of the damaged gas pipeline by the owners and managers of the facility without carrying without carrying out joint investigation visit to determine the cause of the explosion.”
The communities threatened to shut down all NGC operations in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State at the expiration of the two weeks ultimatum, saying “Our appeal to the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, to intervene fell on deaf ears; hence the two weeks ultimatum.”
“When the people noticed the massive emission of gas from the Escravos to Warri gas pipeline at Ikpokpo community, Gbaramatu Kingdom on August 25, 2017, they promptly informed officials of the NGC office in Warri.
“The Warri Zonal office of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) whereupon NOSDRA called for a meeting of stakeholders on October 12, 2017 in Warri and directed that a joint investigation visit should be carryout to ascertained the cause of the gas explosion.”
“However, NGC completely disregarded the NOSDRA directive and instead, mobilized contractor to the site of the explosion with the aid of men of the Nigerian Army to forcefully carryout repair of the leaked gas pipeline without the addressing the grievances of the affected Gbaramartu communities,” they asserted.
The communities’ leaders alleged that all efforts by the zonal office of NOSDRA to get NGC to carryout JIV and take steps to ascertain the extent of damage and carry out remedial actions failed.
Anthai Violin, an official of the NGC Public Affairs, when contacted, said “Sorry, I am not in the position to speak on issues in this regard.”
