Gas flaring kills 13 in Delta communities

• LG boss wants oil multinationals sanctioned

No fewer than 13 lives have been lost in the last two months to gas flaring in six communities of Warri South West and Ndokwa West councils of Delta State.

The communities include Koko, Diagbene, Kwale, Abbe, Utagbe-Uno and Ebede.

Warri South West chairman, Mr. Sheriff Mulade, who spoke with newsmen yesterday in Asaba, urged the Federal Government to be tough with multinational oil companies over their refusal to end flaring, insisting that they must be compelled to adhere to best environmental practices.

“The failure of multinational oil companies to adhere strictly to best environmental practices in the Niger Delta region coupled with the unholy activities of pipeline vandals and those stealing our oil are affecting the environment. They are destroying the ecosystem. Today, as a result of air pollution, our roofs are being destroyed by gas flaring. Life expectancy in the region is now very short all because of unabated release of emission to the air.

“For too long, we have allowed these multinationals to destroy our environment through unending gas flaring,” he lamented.

Mulade, who is also the national coordinator, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPE) added: “It is amazing that justice is far from environmental offenders in Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari should take responsibility by addressing this ugly menace in Nigeria.”

In Kwale community and its environs, investigation showed that the area had been under siege of the harmful practice with wanton destruction of crops and aquatic life.

A community leader, Chief Benson Osakwewho spoke with The Guardian, said: “The situation is becoming too bad for us. The flaring is killing our people. Our farmlands and crops are being destroyed. Now, we have nothing again. The Federal Government should come to our aid.”