– Orphanage seeks medical supplies for children over gas inhalation
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Two weeks after a gas pipeline operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company ruptured in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, the leaking point is yet to be repaired, although the pipeline has been clamped.
The ruptured pipeline is one of the gas lines operated by Eni’s NAOC, which also supplies gas from Agip facilities in Omoku, to the Nigeria LNG Limited in Bonny.
About two weeks ago the gas lined had ruptured along Egbada Road in Omoku main town, behind Grace Orphanage Homes, discharging toxic fumes into the atmosphere as residents scamper for safety.
Meanwhile, some stakeholders in ONELGA have expressed worries over the silence of Eni’s NAOC, the operator of the ruptured gas facility.
The Director of Grace Orphanage Homes, Pastor Nicholas Wokoma, called on the government and industry regulators to prevail on Agip to fix the pipeline, so people can return to their homes.
Wokoma, whose is orphanage is located near the gas facility, said the explosion caused serious panic around the neighbourhood, leading to some persons parking out of the area for fear of a fire explosion.
He expressed fears about the health conditions of the children in the Orphanage since they have been inhaling gas for over five days now while also appealing for relief materials and medical assistance.
“Some people have packed out from the area, but with the number in our orphanage, we can’t just pack out because we don’t have any place to go. Today has been about two weeks, but they have yet to fix the leaking pipe. It is only God that is helping us that fire has not broken out from there. I have called Agip and they said the pipe belongs to NLNG, as I am talking to you nothing has been done on the matter.
“I am calling on the LGA Chairman NAOC and Rivers State Government to come to our aid because this gas leak has driven away everybody including our partners. We are an orphanage home that deals with rescuing homeless children from inner villages to give them education and shelter. We need relief materials and medical supplies for the children because the children are inhaling the gas fumes.”
Also, a Communityrights activistt, who is a traditional ruler, Ambassador Bright Abali, has ruled out the possibility of sabotage, noting that equipment failure may have been responsible for the gas pipeline rupture.
“Every action by residents to attract Agip to the area has proved abortive. These pipes are used to transport gas from ONELGA to the NLNG plant in Bonny. These pipes are old and obsolete and do not meet the 21st-century exploration piping. And Agip does not even look at these pipes periodically.
“Gas eruption is a regular occurrence along Agip pipelines, particularly inside the forest areas due to obsolete pipelines. The company has refused to change their old facilities used over decades.
“NAOC exploration impact has caused unquantifiable damages to the environment, health and general life of the people of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA of Rivers State and these unfriendly exploration practices must stop.”
