The Ijaw Professionals Association has called for mass action over a gas leakage threatening lives, livelihoods and the environment in Bille community of Rivers State, accusing concerned authorities and oil companies of failing to adequately address the problem.
Key Highlights
- Ijaw Professionals Association demands mass action over the gas pollution crisis in Bille.
- The group said gas is bubbling across the community’s land, rivers and water wells.
- Underground and surface water have allegedly been contaminated, with dug-out wells reportedly producing blackish water.
- The association linked the crisis to respiratory and other health problems in the community.
- It cited the death of Miss Joy Amos, who allegedly suffered severe burns in a gas explosion.
- The group called for humanitarian relief, environmental justice and legal accountability for affected communities.
Ijaw Group Demands Action Over Bille Gas Pollution
The association said mass action has become necessary after letters, delegations and appeals to relevant authorities allegedly failed to produce the desired results.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by Maj.-Gen. Paul Toun (rtd), chairman of the association’s board of trustees, the group said gas is bubbling across parts of Bille’s land, rivers and water wells.
It said underground and surface water had been contaminated, while dug-out wells were reportedly producing blackish water amid a lack of pipe-borne water in the community.
Gas Pollution Allegedly Threatens Lives, Livelihoods
The association said the environmental crisis has also polluted the air and rendered some parts of Bille unsafe for human habitation.
It expressed concern over the reported death of Miss Joy Amos, a community member who allegedly sustained severe burns in a gas explosion and died after 19 days of treatment.
The group further said residents were reporting respiratory and other medical problems, describing the situation as a humanitarian emergency.
Association Blames Authorities, Oil Companies
The Ijaw Professionals Association blamed the federal government, petroleum industry regulators, oil companies operating in the area, the Rivers State government, legislators, the local government council and traditional rulers for what it described as inadequate action to address the crisis.
The association particularly criticised oil companies, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), alleging continued resource extraction from Bille without adequate remediation, compensation, decommissioning of hazardous facilities or sufficient social investment.
It also criticised what it described as the diversion of resources meant to support environmental justice campaigns to political activities.
Read also:
- The Boiling waters of Bille
- Gas Leakage: FG Urges Collaboration With Bille Community For Lasting Solution
- Governor Fubara Vows Swift Action On Bille Gas Pollution
Group Calls For Lawful Action, International Intervention
The association called on the Ijaw nation to mobilise for lawful action against authorities and companies it held responsible until concrete and verifiable measures were taken to address the environmental crisis.
It also appealed to people of means within the Ijaw nation to redirect part of their political campaign resources towards legal and advocacy efforts for Bille and other affected communities.
The group further called on international organisations, including the United Nations, World Health Organisation, UN Environment Programme, International Criminal Court, African Commission on Human Rights, Amnesty International, Friends of the Earth International and Greenpeace, to intervene.
According to the association, such intervention should focus on humanitarian relief, environmental justice and legal accountability for residents of Bille and other affected Ijaw communities in the Niger Delta.
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