Gas leakage: NHRC pledges to address Rivers community’s concerns

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has committed to addressing the concerns of residents in Bile community, Rivers State, regarding persistent gas leakage. Assistant Chief Investigation Officer Zainab Hamma made the pledge in Abuja during a presentation of a documentary by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa.

Hamma assured the community that the NHRC would investigate the issues raised and work towards safeguarding their livelihoods. She emphasized the commission's commitment to ensuring the well-being of all Nigerians.

Residents of Bile community have complained about the gas leakage, which they claim has persisted despite visits from relevant agencies and environmental assessments. Timothy Agunbiade, Vice President of the Bile Kingdom Youth Foundation, confirmed that soil sampling and air-quality tests had been conducted, but the issue remained unresolved. NOSDRA had visited the community four times, and the NHRC had also made some visits, yet the leakage continues to this day.

The community's leader, Agunbiade, urged the government to prioritize stopping the leakage rather than merely providing food or financial assistance. He stressed that the residents need the problem to be resolved before discussing any remediation or other measures. Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa's Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, called for urgent action by the government and relevant authorities to address the situation.

He recommended that authorities establish and enforce a binding timetable, assigning clear duties, deadlines, and reporting obligations to every relevant agency and operator involved.