The President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, today assured members of the Koluoma community in Bayelsa State and adjoining villages affected by the gas explosion at a Chevron gas exploration well in January, that the Federal Government will provide more relief materials to alleviate the hardship suffered by the people resulting from impact of the explosion.
The President, according to a statement signed by Eno Olotu on behalf of presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, said government was keen on addressing environmental issues and their attendant ecological impact across sections of the country.
The President promised the communities that the Nigeria Emergency Management Agency will facilitate the deployment of more relief materials to them.
He commended them for showing restraint, tact and discipline in the way and manner they have channeled their grievances and assured them that government will do its best to address their complaints.
Jonathan also enjoined Chevron to provide more relief materials and other sundry relief items to the people.
He urged oil companies operating in the country to undertake the training of personnel, especially residents of communities within their operational base, as part of its compensation and corporate responsibility to the people.
The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, said the state has been exposed to risk due to activities of oil companies operating within its communities and asked that the companies learn to respect their environment in order to ensure the preservation of the nation’s ecological system.
He disclosed that his administration had set up legal and technical committees to harmonise assessment reports conducted.
Speaking on behalf of the communities, a former Bayelsa State House of Assembly member, Hon. A. Ayaowei, listed the problems facing the people resulting from the gas explosion to include inability to continue with their fishing businesses, lack of portable drinking water, medical care and electricity as well as lack of access roads to link the communities.
Chevron’s Managing Director, Andrew Fawthrop, while regretting the incident, promised that the company will commence community and medical development works within in the communities soon.
Jonathan was accompanied to Koluama by Dickson; the Minister of Petroleum Affairs, Deziani Allison-Madueke; the Minister for the Environment, Hadiza Malaifia; and the Minister for the Niger Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe.