The Director-General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Chief Chukwuemeka Woke, has called for the immediate repair of a leaking well-head at Bukuma in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers.

Woke made the call during a tour to evaluate the extent of the spill, which occurred on a facility operated by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).

He also called for continuous surveillance of the operational areas by the NNPCL to prevent future incidents.

“On January 12, NOSDRA received reports of a fire outbreak at the well-head, attributed to excessive gas release.

“We are actively coordinating with the operator and relevant stakeholders to extinguish the fire and to mitigate its effects on the community.

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The D-G further said that the agency was working with other stakeholders to provide relief materials to residents of the affected community.

Woke said that NOSDRA would thoroughly analyse the data collected during the tour and collaborate with stakeholders to bring the situation under control.

He reiterated the agency’s commitment to promoting the welfare of the affected communities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the spill, reported on Jan 1, involved a gas leak from the OML Well 8, operated by NNPCL.

Local security sources told newsmen that the spill was likely instigated by the actions of suspected pipeline vandals who attempted to tap into the well head illegally

Before the D-G’s visit, residents of Bukuma had raised the alarm over the gas leak and the resultant inferno that had affected their environment.

Analysts say that the NOSDRA D-G’s visit and promises of immediate action will provide some relief to the community’s people.