– Methane gas poisoning alleged
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — A four year old child has been confirmed dead in Nembe, Bassambri community over respiratory problems allegedly caused by methane gas poisoning, following prolonged exposure to gas and crude oil leaks from a well operated by Aiteo Eastern Exploration Company in Nembe LGA, Bayelsa State.
Aiteo had reported a leak from an oil well at its Santa Barbra South field within OML29 on November 5th, but community sources claimed that the leak was noticed since November 1st, 2021.
The leaks which has been spewing continuously for over two weeks, has caused residents living along the Nembe creeks to live with the gas and crude discharge which has paralysed economic activities in the predominantly fishing settlements.
Speaking on the development, a Community leader in Opu-Nembe, Mr. Nimibofa Degi, expressed worries over the air toxicity, lamenting that many residents were experiencing respiratory challenges, following prolonged exposure to gas and crude oil leaks from Aiteo oil well.
Degi disclosed that the four-years-old child developed complications following complaints of stomach upset and difficulties in breathing and was being transported to a health centre in Opu-Nembe, from the fishing camp but she died on the way.
“We have expressed worries to the King of Nembe that if nothing is done urgently, more deaths will be imminent, because this four year old girl who died of Methane gas poisoning.
“As a Biochemistry scholar, I know how toxic methane gas can be and we call for an emergency air quality audit to ascertain the toxicity levels in the impacted communities.
“The well in question is a gas well with about 80 percent has and 20 percent crude reserve, and the ongoing response by more than 50 oil workers is on oil recovery while the toxic gas escapes into the atmosphere,” Degi said.
The community leader also described the claims by Aiteo that the oil firm suspects oil theft and sabotage, as a ploy to evade liability for the obvious neglect.
“It is just a ploy to evade liability for the obvious neglect. It is known fact that the well is non producing and the area has salt water while the wellhead casing is made of stellar which is prone to corrosion.
“We will resist every attempt to determine the cause of this disaster even when the investigation is yet to commence, every alliance between the operator and their surveillance contractors to divert attention from safety processes will fail.
“We have evidence that when the leak was reported earlier on about Nov 1, rather than use appropriate sealants, they used clothes to block the crack, we will give the evidence during the Joint Investigation and truth will prevail,” Degi said.
Meanwhile, the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency says it has authorised the deployment of oil spill response team around the country to assist Aiteo, in the recovery of spilled crude it mitigate impact on the environment.
The Director-General of NOSDRA, Dr. Idris Musa, confirmed that the leak was yet to be stopped, adding that personnel deployed to investigate the incident could not commence work until the leak was plugged.
