Gas explosions, leakages endangering our health —Gbaramatu communities ON January 4, 2018

By Emma Amaize
WARRI— IKPOKPO, Okpeleama, Otogbene, Atangba and other Ijaw communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, affected by gas explosions and frequent leakages allegedly from the Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company Limited, NGPTC, gas pipeline in the area, have cried out over the grave danger posed to the inhabitants.
Gbaramatu communities, in an SOS to President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, claimed that gas was constantly leaking from the Nigeria Gas Company, NGC, pipeline now known as NGPTC, thereby constituting "serious health hazard to the inhabitants of the communities affected since August 25, 2017."
Gas pipeline
In the SOS by Messrs Edwin Odudu and Godwin Akori for the communities, the people alleged: "During the festive period, especially from December 24, 2017 till date, there has been a constant and massive leakage from the gas pipeline. All efforts to get the Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company, owners of the facility to stop the leakage have proved abortive. The people of the communities are now living in perpetual fear of inferno with unimaginable consequences.
"It will be recalled that the Nigeria Gas Processing and Transportation Company has deliberately ignored several invitations by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, to carry out a joint investigation visit, JIV, to determine the cause of the persistent explosion from the gas pipeline at Ikpokpo commuunity, Gbaramatu Kingdom. Therefore, for fear of an inferno, the affected Gbaramatu communities have called on President Buhari, Governor Okowa and the Minister of State, Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, to come to their aid by directing the management of the Nigeria Gas Processing and Transportation Company to immediately stop the continuous emission of gas from the gas pipeline at Ikpokpo community. "We have also demanded that they direct the appropriate agencies to send relief materials and medical facilities to the affected communities to treat those afflicted by different ailments and cushion the effect of the explosion, carry out joint investigation visits and pay compensation to the victims."