PRESS RELEASE !!!!

Saturday 23, January, 2021

The Delta State Civil Society Community commiserate with the State government, the good of people Agbor, Ika-South Local Government Area, on the gas explosion at OSADEBE OIL and GAS COMPANY NIGERIA LIMITED, Agbor, that has left some persons dead, injured and properties razed down.

In reaction to the sad incident which occurred on Friday 22nd January, 2021, as reported, we are pained at the level of destruction and the loss of lives and property.

The Delta State Civil Society Community bemoans the proliferation of gas and petrol stations across the state and other part of our country which has now reached a level of unimaginable nightmare with negative consequences on the environment.

Findings have revealed that the guidelines for citing gas and petrol stations have not been strictly adhered to thereby posing serious hazards on residence in close proximity to them. Also, it has been observed that most environmental agencies have not enforced environmental standards for reason we can not fathom at the moment while we call on them to wake up to their statutory responsibility as we are more than ready to partner with them to ensure compliance and create needed advocacy.

Civil Societies being the watchdog of the society, and the voice of the voiceless, the Delta State Civil Society Community hereby advocate for proper environmental management from the government regulators and total compliance by the gas plants and petrol stations operators in the state. It is expected that environmental protection should be given highest priority in all economic pursuits in Delta State without fear or favour as we will not allow it to be business as usual.

The Delta State Civil Society Community while calling for restraint from members of the public not to take laws into their hands, has asked our members to spring to action to partner and advocate for stiffer penalties for violators and unlawful conduct by gas plants and petrol stations operators across the state.

It is very imperative that we partner with government and the public to invoke the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) international environmental protocol by creating the needed advocacy on the risk of gas and petrol stations in residential areas. We thank the Delta State Governor Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, for visiting the site of the incident for an on the spot assessment, visiting the families of the dead and approving medical supports to survivors in hospitals and his readiness to present a bill to the Delta State House of Assembly to regulate the establishment and operations of gas plants and petrol stations in Delta State and urge him to ban the establishment of gas plants and petrol stations in residential areas and making it mandatory for all to carryout environment impact assessment, environmental audit and mandatory health, safety and environment(HSE) training for their staffs.We will partner his administration to change the narratives positively for environmental sustainability.

We are resolute to continue to be the people’s advocate at all times, The Delta State Civil Society Community call on environmental regulatory agencies like the Delta State Ministry of Environment, Delta State Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Petroleum Resources, Federal Ministry of Environment to enforce compliance to environmental standards, as we will partner with them through the Office of The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Delta State on Civic Engagement and Civil Society to constantly mount public enlightenment campaign using posters, bill boards and media houses to educate the public on the hazards associated with gas and petroleum products with respect to human health and the environment.

The Delta State Civil Society Community once again express her deep condolence to the families of the affected by this ugly incident.

Signed:

Deacon Okezi Odugala (Coordinator).

Comrade Ambrose Egbe.
(Deputy Secretary)