Concerned Citizen and Human Rights Activist in Benin City, Edo State, Barr Friday Osakpamwan Ogieriakhi has brought the attention of President Bola Tinubu to the environmental crisis bedeviling various communities in Ovia North East and Ovia South West, appealing that his intervention would relax the crisis of the continued gas flaring in the areas.
In a letter addressed to the President, a copy made available to Journalists, he highlighted the severe impact of environmental air pollution and degradation allegedly caused by the activities of the NNPC Gas infrastructure Company Limited, formerly known as Nigerian Gas Company Limited (NGC), a subsidiary of NNPC Limited.
According to Barr Ogieriakhi, the company’s operations, particularly its gas flaring activities have resulted in the emissions of toxic black spots, posing significant health challenge to its residents and as well as damaged their farm crops worth millions of naira.
Expressing frustration over previous attempts to address the issue through correspondence with NNPC Limited and relevant state agencies, Barr Ogieriakhi emphasized the urgent need for Mr President’s intervention by way of providing compelling evidence of the ongoing environmental degradation, including letters previously sent to NNPC Limited, video Coverage by the Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) and photographic evidence of damage caused to the people’s properties in the vicinity of the company’s operations.
The letter however serves as a heartfelt appeal for immediate attention to the plight of residents in the affected areas and communities, urging Mr. President to intervene and take decisive action to protect the health and well being of citizens, saying that failure on the issue would result in the continued suffering for the present and future generations in the areas.
