The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State council, is seeking urgent intervention in gas leaks in Abak local government area.
According to the union, unless a quick intervention mechanism is put in place to stop the gas leaks that could soon snowball into explosion, residents along Ikot Okoro Road in Abak local government area of the state stand the risk of being exterminated.
It was gathered the gas leaks emanate from the EDSENS Energy Ultramodern Digital Gas Plant located in the area and has been emitting dangerous fumes into the atmosphere since new year day.
Accordingly, the NUJ has expressed dismay that no remedial measures to mitigate the impacts of the fumes from the firm’s ruptured facility have been put in place since the beginning of the new year.
The union, therefore drew the attention of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency (NMDPRA), to wade in with a view to ascertaining the cause of the problem for immediate remedy.
“We urge the regulatory agencies to intervene in the life-threatening incident that could lead to gas explosion in the area, and to equally order the immediate relocation of the gas plant to a non-residential area for safety reasons, having breached the cite suitability requirement and other operational guidelines,” the union stated.
This was one of the major resolutions reached at the January Congress of the union held at the council secretariat, Information Drive, Uyo, the state capital, held at the weekend.
The congress, presided over by the state chairman, Comrade Amos Etuk, also appreciated Governor Umo Eno for fulfilling his promise of completing the auditorium project of the union through the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Committee as the contractor is set to commence work.
The congress expressed delight at the assumption of duties in the state by the new Commissioner of Police (CP), Baba Azare, who pledged to work with journalists and called for support and collaboration with the media community, assuring him of their continued support.
