Group raises concerns over gas leakages in Bayelsa communities

A non-governmental group, Sustainable Environment and Peace Building Foundation, has alerted on the dangers posed by oil leakages from CON OiL flow station offshore on Sangana, Fishtown, Bara-ama, Okumbiri, Opu-okubiri, Oginibiri, Otuo and Ilaiga-Ama communities in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The group Executive Director, Authority Benson, said the leakages were polluting the ocean and killing thousands of aquatic lives.

Benson further presented pictorial evidence of the disastrous environmental impacts of the gas leakages which he said occurred since October 31, 2021 but left unattended to by CON Oil, NOSDRA and State Ministry of Environment.

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He said preliminary investigations showed that CON Oil quickly evacuated their workers from the flow station immediately the incident started but refused to stop the leakages till date.

“As of the time of this report, several affected communities in Brass LGA including Sangana, Fishtown, Bara-ama, Okumbiri, Opu-okubiri, Oginibiri, Otuo and Ilaiga-Ama communities are living under fear of more gas explosions and possible fire outbreaks,” Benson said.

He further stated that severe air contamination had resulted in difficulty in breathing among vulnerable children, pregnant women and elderly people.

“Unfortunately, the communities are still helpless and starving as their main source of livelihood (fishing) has stopped. Sadly, till now, NOSDRA and the State Ministry of Environment are yet to respond to the plights of these communities,” Benson added.

The Executive Director said all efforts to get the attention of CON OiL management by the leadership of the affected communities had been unsuccessful as the company was not willing to take responsibility in any form.

He called on CON OiL to prioritize the health and environment of the affected communities over economic gains, stop politicizing the issue, and quickly stop the gas leakages.

“CON OiL should clean up the affected areas in the sea using bioremediation methods, and provide relief materials to the affected communities, including medical aids, adequate food and clean drinking water for not less than six months and pay compensations to fishermen whose fishing nets were damaged,” Benson said.

He also called on the State Ministry of Environment to determine the actual causes of the gas leakages and quantify level of damages caused in the affected area, so as to established scientific data for effective interventions.

Benson also appealed to the state Governor to speak up on the issue and take actions to protect the interest of the affected communities based on the provision in the PIA and other related legislative acts.

Benson also appealed to national and state media houses to give appropriate attention to the issue, as this would help to draw the attention of international communities to the incident, and elicit collective advocacies and demands for environmental justice and push CON OiL to respond to the plights of the affected communities in Brass.