The residents of Ikot Ukpong, an oil and gas community in Ukanafun local government area of Akwa Ibom State, have raised the alarm that the area faces imminent humanitarian and environmental disaster following unrestrained gas leakage from a ruptured pipeline.
LEADERSHIP gathered yesterday that the damaged gas pipeline followed the oil exploration and exploitation activities of Savana Energy Ltd, an International Oil Community (IOC) operating in the area.
“The gas leak occurring on the Right of Way (RoW) here in this community is posing a serious threat to the lives and properties of the people and agriculture, which is their common means of livelihood.
“We are calling on governments at various levels, the firm and other concerned authorities to nib the impending disaster in the bud before it spirals into a big humanitarian crisis,” Comrade Ndarake Akpan, a youth activist, noted.
“The company is making an effort right now to fix the problem before escalation,” Nsikak Ekanem, a journalist, told our correspondent.
However, the minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo, has urged people of the affected communities to exercise extreme caution to “ensure safety following a gas leak incident reported along the Right of Way (ROW) at Ikot Ukpong, from a pipeline operated by Savana Energy Ltd.”
A spokesman for the minister, Louis Ibah, in a statement on behalf of his boss, impressed the affected residents to be cautious in the face of the problem, assuring it will soon be addressed.
“The minister wishes to assure residents of the affected area that he is in contact with relevant regulatory agencies and stakeholders from both the federal and Akwa Ibom State governments to identify the cause of the leak and restore normalcy to the area as quickly as possible.
“Residents along the RoW of gas pipelines are implored against tampering with critical assets, and also advised that any community that suspects a leak from any pipeline should please report such incident to relevant authorities and should not attempt to profit from the situation, as this can lead to serious injury or even loss of life,” he warned.
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