By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja
ABUJA — The House of Representatives Committee on the South-South Development Commission has commenced an investigation into the prolonged gas leak in Bille Community, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, expressing concern over the environmental and humanitarian impact of the incident nearly a year after it was first reported.
At an investigative session held on Thursday at the National Assembly, lawmakers questioned officials of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) over the delayed response, conflicting reports and the continued hardship faced by residents.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Julius Pondi, said the investigation was aimed at determining the cause of the gas emissions, assessing the adequacy of emergency response efforts and strengthening regulatory oversight.
“The committee approaches this engagement with an open mind. Our objective is to establish the facts, identify operational or regulatory shortcomings, ensure accountability and make recommendations that will improve environmental governance,” Pondi said.
