Group blasts Okowa over failure to address gas flaring menace

A non-governmental organization group, Kovenium/mmalah Foundation (KIF) in Delta state has alleged Delta State government’s failure to address the age long gas flaring menace in the state as maladministration and insensitive to the yearnings of the people.

Executive Director of the NGO, Miss Faith Nwandishi, told journalists in Asaba, at the weekend, that the gas flaring menace had allegedly wreaked havoc in Ndokwa East, West, Ughelli, Ogwash- Uku and Ozoro over a year with no fewer than 132 persons feared killed between 2015/2016.

Noting the negative effect of gas flaring on the state citizens and the environment, Miss Nwadishi said Nigeria does not need to wait till 2030 to stop gas flaring and challenged the Delta State government to attach priority to the issue and marshal out ways of ending it in the State possibly before the end of 2030 global deadline.

She condemned the inability of governments, (both state & federal) to address the issue of gas flaring which has continued to impact negatively not only on the nation/state economy, but also on the lives of Deltans/Nigerians, especially those in the oil producing areas.

Her word: the failure of government (state/federal) to address the continued gas flaring is a shame, over 132 persons have been killed between 2015/2016, so, why waiting for 2030.”

Miss Nwadishi however called on the federal/state governments to quickly evolve measures that would lead to stoppage of gas flaring with its adverse effect on the economy, adding that it is irrational and economically unwise for government to allow the practice to persist.

“I think it is high time the Federal State Government wadded into gas flaring issues/menace, the oil and gas companies operating in Delta or Niger Delta region should be made to gradually and the practice of glass flaring to prevent loss of lives and sector” she added.

But in a swift reaction, the state commissioner for information, Mr Patrick Ukah, said Dr Okowa led administration was poised to solving the problems facing Deltans, adding: gas flare is a national issue and Gov Okowa will do his best to curtail the situation.”

He blamed the National Assembly (NASS) for its failure to speed up to the petroleum industry bill which he said, when passed into law, will assist in solving problems in the oil sector including problem of gas flaring.