The gas pipeline leakage point.
RDI raises alarm, seeks govt’s assistance
Oregha community does not have visible government presence such as good roads, water facilities and electricity
By Valentine Amanze
The Renewlyn Development Initiative (RDI) has raised alarm over the destructive impact of gas link from Nigeria Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC) pipeline on Oregha community, Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta State.
It also appealed to the federal, Delta State governments and relevant agencies to compel the NGIC to mobilize immediately to clamp the gas leak and black oil spewing into the community farmlands and river.
The RDI Executive Director, Philip Jakpor, who raised the alarm after his team’s visit to the community of about 2,000 people near Oko Amurun, Ohore in Uvwie council, lamented the level of decay of the NGIC facility.
In a statement made available to the Nigeria News Flight, Jakpor called on the NGIC to urgently replace its aged pipes that were causing havoc in the community, while appealing for sanction against erring officials of NGIC for failing to address the imminent danger of an explosion and other fallouts of the pipeline rupture reported to them.
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The RDI boss also urged the government to carry out a comprehensive investigation and environmental audit to ascertain the impact of the leaks on the environment and especially the Oregha River.
He also advocated compensation of the locals for their losses including destruction of their farmlands and waters.
Jakpor however advised NGIC to strengthens its relationship with the Community Relations Committee (CRC) to ensure seamless communication, while addressing community concerns.
Chairman of Oregha Community, Chief Mackson Edeki, who is a fisherman, confirmed the plight of his community to the RDI team, who visited the community.
He said that after the initial attempt to get the attention of the NGIC through a report to the NGIC CRC, he noticed corrosive chemical in the Oregha River.
It is worthy of note that Oregha community does not have visible government presence such as good roads, water facilities and electricity.
The few roads and boreholes in the community were constructed through self-help and philanthropist gestures aimed at making life better for the community residents. The community hosts two pipelines owned and managed by the Nigeria Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), a gas transportation company with an extensive network of gas pipelines spanning over 2,500km across 11 states of the federation and reaching more than 350 host communities.
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