₦airaland Forum

Gas Flare: Enugu puts out fire, vows to harness state’s gas potential

By Chioma Gabriel

Men of the Enugu State Fire Service have successfully put out the gas flare that erupted during a borehole drilling activity at the Federal Housing Estate in Ugwogo Nike, Enugu State, as the state government restated its determinations to convert the state’s dormant gas and other mineral resources to productive assets.


This was even as the state government warned against drilling of boreholes without the authorisation of the State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change as well as other relevant government agencies.

This was made known by the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Prof. Sam Ugwu during an inspection tour of the gas flare incident at Nike on Sunday.

Recall that the gas flare occurred at about 10:30 pm on Saturday and lasted till the early hours of Sunday, resulting in the rig operators and some residents scampering for safety.

Speaking during the on-site inspection, Ugwu, who was also accompanied by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Kingsley Nnaji, thanked the firemen led by the Chief Fire Officer, Engr. Okwudiri Ohaa, for their prompt intervention.

“As was rightly pointed out, we had this experience around the Caritas University last year and this is the second incident.

“The government is going to investigate the incident further because already, we have environmental laws. They were supposed to have applied to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. The Ministry would come here to do an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and then there would be a letter of commencement, which would be issued by the Ministry. So, I advise anybody going into the ground to do the proper thing to avoid this kind of experience we now have here. But for the prompt intervention of the State Fire Service, this could have caused the loss of lives and houses around this place

“But these gas eruptions have also further confirmed Governor Peter Mbah’s statement that we have both solid and liquid mineral resources in abundance in Enugu State, which his administration is very much interested in harnessing for the good of the people of Enugu and the nation in general.

“So, Enugu cannot be known as Coal City alone because we have gas, limestone, kaolin, gypsum, and other mineral resources in abundance. That is why the present government is very interested in bringing local and foreign investors to come and invest in these mineral deposits”, Ugwu stated.

Narrating the incident, the Chief Fire Officer, Engr. Ohaa, said the experience garnered by the Fire Service during such an accidental gas eruption around Caritas University, Nike, helped them apply the right measures to stop the flare.

“What readily came to mind was the incident at Caritas University last year, around 24 May to be precise. That Caritas University incident took us roughly three weeks to quench because we never had such an experience before. But with the support of the government that has continued to finance us for emergencies like this, we were able to put off this one in less than eight hours. It shows that the Enugu State Government is not joking about making the state State the first choice for investment”, he stated.

He warned residents of the area to respect the cordon by the servicemen and also avoid coming close to the site with fire of any kind. He, however, assured that his men would be on the ground until the flow totally stopped.

A resident of the estate, Engr Boniface Ogbueje told newsmen that the incident caused pandemonium, but commended the State Fire Service for saving the situation.

“We thought the rig or the vehicle had gas leakage and caught fire. Eventually, this was not the case. The fire continued to increase and increase. People were running helter-skelter, but the firemen came quickly and were able to bring the fire under control after several hours. God really helped us”, he said.

Meanwhile, a staff of the drilling firm, Orange Drilling Company, Kamarudeen Ado, said they were taken unawares as they least expected the presence of natural gas in the water pumping up.

He, however, confirmed that there was no loss of lives or property, while those injured were receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2023/10/gas-flare-enugu-puts-out-fire-vows-to-harness-states-gas-potential/amp/

VIDEO of the gas emission

Gas explosion occurred yesterday at the Federal Housing Estate in Ugwuogo Nike, Enugu, which was triggered when residents were trying to drill a water borehole.

The ease at which the fire started shows how endowed the Enugu and the entire southeast is with Natural gas.

Money… pic.twitter.com/AyJbCzenxP

— DEMAGOGUE PhD.💘senior advocat (@von_Bismack) October 29, 2023

What would happen to that caritas university. Will they vacate the premises and get a compensation cos that university is massive

Blaze14k:
What would happen to that caritas university. Will they vacate the premises and get a compensation cos that university is massive

Not sure, when the need arises, they would drill from another location

We no go hear word again.

Modified:
For those quoting me and talking about hate, i don't have hatred in my dictionary. I only say the truth as it is.

Well, what has happened is 'American Wonder' and the people have seen a miracle. I pray erosion be kind enough not to wash it down to South South.

Na this propaganda go full everywhere today.

The state government shouldn't stress themselves, the federal government will be responsible and will look into that.

Ndi Enugu Amaka

i wished Nigeria worked because we are blessed ethnically but unfortunately the contraption is not working and it's heading to the jungle life hence we want Biafra.

Ok

Nawa oo

benuejosh:
We no go hear word again.

😂

Abeg, make we use this one hold body as Supreme court don fck up.

My SS brothers I say sorry for what Nigeria has made you become. My SE brothers, you are more than blessed in Nigeria. Am also sorry for what Nigeria want to make you become.

SS & SE you are the backbone, liveline of the Nigeria rogue State. When you are in the presidency they use propaganda to chase you out of the presidency cos according to them the SE Was made the backbone of the SS presidency. Nigeria has gone to full mode tribalism ssince 2015 & worst since 2023 appointing only people from their tribal stock to fill in government positions. The SE was told they will never become president

Hope una dey see the Connection, hope also the damn Hypocrisy of Nigeria


One Nigeria allows the goldmine to be raped by the chanters of one Nigeria only for their own benefit while the oil that is used to develope the Capital & former Capital, the indigenes are told to go back to their villages

Okay.

H

omoadeleye:
The state government shouldn't stress themselves, the federal government will be responsible and will look into that.

Responsible like they are in Zamfara abi?

benuejosh:
We no go hear word again.

your papa hear word wey make am dey where he dey now ?

benuejosh:
We no go hear word again.

Pakute:
Na this propaganda go full everywhere today.

Jealousy united Fc.

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Enugu is sitting on trillions of dollars. Gas by just drilling borehole. Wow wow wow.
Enugu can actually have 24/7 electricity by setting up gas power plant.

Chibuzoc:
i wished Nigeria worked because we are blessed ethnically but unfortunately the contraption is not working and it's heading to the jungle life hence we want Biafra.

No gas in ibo land.

benuejosh:
We no go hear word again.

This guy,hope you will not die of hatred one day.

God exalts the humble… Enugu just like other eastern states that have suffered neglects are heavily blessed from iron ore, limestones, shale oil, petroleum, solid minerals etc now gas.

Yoruba people keep saying we're attaching SS because of their oil, trust me we we're attaching them cos we are brothers. No Yoruba or someone claiming to be from SS quote me.

AareGaa:
No gas in ibo land.

but gas dey for your mama ikpu

Nice one.....24/7 electricity in Enugu state should be one of the goals.

Pakute:
Na this propaganda go full everywhere today.

not propaganda it is celebration of God's gift that have been unknown

benuejosh:
We no go hear word again.

The Gas in SE will be use in development of Biafra republic, make you terrorist government carry their ugly head near there, make we see..

Good

We are too wasteful in this country.

Pakute:
Na this propaganda go full everywhere today.

See painment

MasterJayJay:
Jealousy united Fc.

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Enugu is sitting on trillions of dollars. Gas by just drilling borehole. Wow wow wow.
Enugu can actually have 24/7 electricity by setting up gas power plant.

we don dey use gas in this country since when enugu was called a coal city.