Environmental Rights group reports gas leak from Agip’s oil field in Bayelsa

Environmental Rights Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has reported an underwater gas leak from an oil field operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Kalaba, Bayelsa.

A field report signed by Mr Morris Alagoa, Head of Field Operation at ERA/FoEN made available on Monday showed that the incident occurred on Saturday.

The report stated that the gas leakage is coming from an underwater gas pipeline beneath Taylor Creek at Kalaba community, Okordia Clan, Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa.

ERA/FoEN, an NGO noted that the gas leaking at high pressure was causing giant bubbles at the Taylor Creek which serves as the sole source of water to the communities.

The report quoted the Paramount Ruler of Kalaba Community as also confirming the incident.

“What we are seeing is the bubbling of gas; leaking from the pipe of NOAC. This was discovered in the early hours of Saturday.

“I got to hear about it first when some children were shouting that oil was bubbling and that there was a leakage.

“As a trained field monitor I also came around to see what was happening in the environment; whether what I heard was true. When I pulled down here by canoe, I discovered that it was true, gas was actually bubbling.

“Incidentally, this Creek is our only source of drinking water and where we carry out almost all domestic activities. And right now, the water is polluted.

“What I did then, as a monitor of the environment; I promptly informed the Environmental Rights Action because, that is the organization we know that has been helping us to reach out to Agip whenever such things happen,” the report said.

The NGO advised the oil firm to immediately deploy to the site shut the source of the gas leak to forestall further pollution of the environment and exposure of residents to toxic associated gas.

ERA/FoEN also urged the management of Agip to convene a Joint Investigation Visit to unravel the cause of the leak.

Efforts to get a reaction from NAOC officials were unsuccessful. Requests for comment sent to the oil firm’s Media Relations Manager, Mr Cotalini Fillipo were yet to be responded to.