Business Post Contributor
By Ashemiriogwa Emmanuel
The Obotim Nsit community in Nsit Ibom Local government area of Akwa Ibom state has expressed sorrow over the death and economical damages caused by the gas pipeline explosion that occurred in 2016.
The explosion, which happen about five years ago in Asang Community High School in the area, was attributed to a technical fault from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) gas pipeline which took the lives of over 28 people.
Speaking at a media briefing, the community head, Mr Eteidung Iniobong Akpan, lamented that since the gas pipeline explosion, the people have been having damage after damages as many houses have collapsed, and water from rains have remained black and unfit for use.
He said, “Most of our people are suffering from heart attacks. The roof of the Asang Community High School where the incident occurred has been ripped open and since then no conscious effort has been taken to renovate the school.
“Recently, students writing WAEC exams in the school had to stop writing exams to allow the rain to stop because of the leaking roofs. There is no electricity in our community since then because the Seven Energy company ordered that the transformer be disabled to enable the fire which erupted from the explosion to be put out.”
The head of the Akwa Ibom community further explained that even after six years when the catastrophe happened, most of the residents in that area face a hard time breathing good air because of the polluted atmosphere of the community which has resulted in serious health challenges.
Mr Akpan thereafter requested a sum of N7.6 billion compensation from the company, on behalf of the community, to enable it to rehabilitate the area.
“We are also urging the Akwa Ibom and federal government to intercede so that we have our lives back,” he appealed at the briefing.
