PORT HARCOURT: AN urgent appeal has gone to the federal government and the international community to come up with measures to end gas flaring in the country.
Speaking during a forum of National Coalition on Gas Flaring and Oil Spills in the Niger Delta (NACGOND) participants noted that the increase in oil production in the region brought about by the federal government’s amnesty programme had led to corresponding rise in incidents of gas flaring in the country.
Continuing, Coordinator of the body, Inemo Samiama said the impacts of the flare were being felt in oil bearing communities all over the Niger Delta region.
While calling on multinational oil firms doing business in the region to operate in conformity with international best practices to save the region from environmental hazards Mr Inemo further called for adequate compensation for communities already affected by impact of gas flare.
The group further enjoined stakeholders in the oil and gas operations in the region to work together to manage and minimise oil spill incidents and also come up with an enduring solution towards guaranteeing healthy living in the region
“Government and oil majors must recognise that the current system of oil spill response does not work and has contributed to one of the core grievances of the Niger Delta region.
This failure has supported the space in which violence has emerged. It is time for a non violent approach to address this critical ecological and environmental disaster”, the group said.
