Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has called for the immediate and permanent resolution of the gas seepage affecting Bille Community in Degema Local Government Area, pledging to upgrade the community’s Primary Healthcare Centre to enhance emergency response and healthcare delivery for affected residents.
Fubara made the commitment on Wednesday during an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting at Government House, Port Harcourt, attended by representatives of the Federal Government, Rivers State Government, regulatory agencies, oil and gas industry operators, and leaders of the Bille Kingdom.
The meeting reviewed the environmental and public health implications of the gas leakage and considered coordinated measures aimed at identifying its source and implementing a lasting solution.
Addressing participants after the meeting, the governor said the state government had already carried out an on-site assessment of the affected community alongside officials of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and industry operators before convening the broader stakeholders’ engagement.
According to him, the discussions focused on determining the root cause of the gas seepage and agreeing on practical interventions to permanently resolve the incident.
Fubara expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting, saying the level of collaboration among all stakeholders had strengthened confidence that the problem would be resolved through sustained technical investigations and coordinated government action.
He also commended the Federal Government and its agencies for their commitment to addressing the crisis, noting that investigations were progressing despite the absence of any known oil and gas infrastructure in the immediate vicinity of the seepage.
The governor further announced that the Rivers State Government would upgrade the Bille Primary Healthcare Centre to improve its capacity to respond to health emergencies arising from the incident and enhance healthcare services for residents.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, who led the Federal Government delegation, praised Governor Fubara for his proactive leadership and close collaboration with federal authorities in responding to the emergency.
Ekpo dismissed suggestions that the Federal Government had ignored the situation, explaining that technical experts were deployed immediately after reports of the gas seepage emerged to determine its origin.
He said investigations had proved particularly challenging because there were no existing oil or gas facilities around the affected location, making detailed scientific and geological studies necessary to establish the source of the leakage.
The minister disclosed that government officials had also engaged community leaders to secure their cooperation throughout the investigation process, assuring residents that safeguarding lives and protecting public safety remained the Federal Government’s overriding priority.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that every necessary measure is taken to eliminate the threat posed by the gas seepage and restore normalcy to the community.
Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the commission was working closely with industry operators to resolve the crisis.
She disclosed that immediate relief measures were being arranged for the community, including the provision of potable water and firefighting equipment to minimise risks while investigations continue.
Earlier, the Public Relations Officer of the Council of Chiefs of Bille Kingdom, Chief Rena Dappa, highlighted the environmental, health and socio-economic challenges confronting residents, urging both the Federal and Rivers State governments to sustain intervention efforts until the crisis is fully resolved.
The gas seepage in Bille Community has heightened concerns over environmental safety and public health, prompting a coordinated response by federal and state authorities as investigations continue to determine its cause and implement a permanent solution.
