The Rivers State Government and the Federal Government have reaffirmed their commitment to resolving the gas leak affecting Bille Community in Degema Local Government Area, assuring residents that further actions will be taken in the coming weeks.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara gave the assurance after a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpo Ekpo, representatives of oil and gas companies operating in the area, and leaders of the Bille community.
Fubara recalled that the state government had earlier visited the affected community alongside relevant stakeholders to assess the situation. He said the latest meeting enabled all parties to review the circumstances surrounding the gas leak and agree on practical measures aimed at resolving the issue.
According to the governor, the discussions were fruitful, expressing confidence that the resolutions reached would soon translate into meaningful action.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpo Ekpo, said the Federal Government had been actively monitoring the situation through the appropriate regulatory agency, which is investigating the source of the leak.
He explained that the investigation was necessary because there are no Federal Government-owned oil and gas facilities located close to the incident site.
Ekpo said his visit was intended to complement the assessment already carried out by the Rivers State Government and provide an opportunity to engage directly with the affected community.
The minister emphasized that protecting the lives of residents remains a priority, noting that the gas leak poses serious risks to both the people and the environment. He appealed to community members to continue cooperating with government agencies as efforts to find a lasting solution continue.
He further assured the Bille community of the Federal Government’s support and said the requests presented by community leaders during the meeting would receive careful consideration.
