BY CHIBUZOR ISICHEI
Prevention, they say, is better than cure. It is in this context that residents of Ebeye, Ogumu and Ngbeken streets in Agbor have raised an alarm over an ongoing gas plant construction in their area.
The angry residents called for urgent intervention by the relevant authorities as the gas plant poses a danger to them. In separate remarks, the residents completely condemned the siting of the gas plant in an area which is purely residential.
They said that they have met several times with the owner of the project, but he refused to heed their agitation, claiming they have no right to challenge him on where to build the gas plant.
According to the report, the gas plant, which is located at Ebeye Street by Ogumu Street junction, shares the same compound with tenants who cook with firewood. The residents, have, therefore, appealed to both the Delta State government and Ika South Local Government Council to wade into the issue.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that the Ika South Local Government, through its Department of Environment, has served an abatement letter to the owner of the proposed gas plant project. A source said that the step by the Ika South Local Government Council has given them some relief as they look forward to the resolution of the matter.
The community said that the people are against locating the gas project due to several concerns, including safety risks, health concerns, noise pollution, environmental impact, and fear of accidents. And these concerns can be particularly significant in densely populated residential areas where the potential risk can be more pronounced.
They recalled that gas fires have taken a lot of lives in the area, and do not want a repeat of the ugly incidents, adding that locating a gas plant in a residential area is “demonic and satanic.’’
They also called on the government to get involved in locating the gas project for several reasons, including protecting public safety, regulating and enforcing standards and ensuring environmental protection.
By getting involved, the government can help ensure that the gas projects are developed and operated in a way that prioritises public safety and community well-being.
A man who chose to be anonymous cautioned that if the gas project is located in a residential area without the consent of the residents, it could lead to significant resistance and some possible actions, such as protests, demonstrations, confrontations, and even legal actions.
He said that residents may also employ various tactics to disrupt the project’s operations, such as blockades, saying that the specific actions residents take would depend on the circumstances, including the level of consultation and engagement with the company and government.
He noted that the residents are law-abiding citizens and do not want any trouble and appealed to the owner of the gas project to relocate the gas plant based on the health of the people, adding that no compensation could assuage the residents, as they have resolved that their health matters most and that the location is not the appropriate place for a gas plant.
An oil worker, Mr Johnson Okon, who spoke with Lifestyle, said it is unfortunate that the sale of gas in Nigeria is a contentious issue, and that is why there are allegations of corruption and regulatory failures contributing to the widespread sale of gas in an unregulated manner. He also lamented ‘’This is a country where gas is sold like kerosene and water without regard to the inherent dangers,’’ saying that the federal government has failed in that regard.
Okon said that as far as gas is concerned, there are regulatory challenges, institutional overlaps, weak enforcement of laws and alleged corruption in the system.
Gas, in the context of energy, refers to natural gas that needs to be handled with care. It is a vital energy source used for various purposes such as electricity generation, heating and cooking, industrial processes and transportation. Some of the largest gas-producing countries include the United States, Russia, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Nigeria, amongst others.
For those endowed with this natural resource, it must be used well to the glory of the Lord, the giver, and not to the detriment of the residents of the area where it is located.
As the issue stands now, the best thing to do is for the owner of the gas project to relocate the project in the interest of peace and the well-being of the residents of the Ebeye community.