The Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) has disclosed that, upon receiving a call from an indigene of Kaiama in Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area of Bayelsa State at about 1pm on Thursday, October 24, 2024, about an ongoing gas leak along Shell’s EPU 3&4 Bulk Line, it promptly responded by visiting the environment of interest.
“Incidentally, Shell and other stakeholders were on ground for Joint Investigation Visit and actually visited the bubbling spot through canoe as the environment was flooded,” EDEN disclosed.
The Joint Investigation Team (JIT), being observed by EDEN, concluded that they can only ascertain exactly what is causing the bubbling or leak after the flood recedes and the spot is excavated to expose the pipe and properly identify what is the situation.
Representatives of NOSDRA and Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment and community representatives were part of the JIT including the Community Trust Board Chairman, Panebi George Inoru.
EDEN stated that it visited the spot immediately after the JIT concluded and left the environment.
EDEN submitted: “Irrespective of the flood, Shell ought to mobilise relevant equipment and ensure the sailing leakage and pollution stops. If this happened in the middle of the Nun River (because the gas pipeline runs across the Nun River), would they wait until the river dries up before doing the needful?
“EDEN demands immediate action and not later.”
