Tony Anichebe 
For the people of Urua Essien Etuk village and the neighboring community in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, a recent Gas explosion has sparked panic and massive destruction in community and environs rendering the people homeless and frustrated.
The immediate cause of the explosion, which has left sorrows, tears, sufferings and frustration in its wake, accord- ing to the residents of the affected community is the drill- ing of oil by the British Oil and Gas Exploration Limited (BOGEL).
Alleged cause
Our correspondent who visited the community observed that the level of massive de- struction caused to the com- munity, with houses, properties and businesses lost to the inferno, which some said is as a result of negligence and unprofessional manner of operations in the area by BOGEL. BOGEL started operations in May 2024 in Rig 15 Ete-04 and on July 10, 2024, as gathered there was a gas explosion caused by the company that polluted the community, without no remedial opera- tions carried out.
This devel- opment is said to be contrary to the waste management laws of Akwa Ibom State. Following this ugly development, BOGEL’s oil base mud and water mud that should have been treated and disposed in accordance with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC/DPR) standards and poli- cies of waste management, was not adhered to.
It was said to have been grossly violated and abandoned, leading to the destruction of aquatic lives and causing injury to human health. Pains It was further learnt that the explosion has rendered indigenes of the community, particularly Urua Essien Etuk helpless, as it has caused untold hardship to the people. Their farmlands, and stream/ river, which remain the only sources of livelihood, were badly condemned and damaged, while many villagers are said to be facing different health challenges arising from the pollution.
The drilling operation, which is still ongoing by the same company, according to the people has also violated the Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) guidelines as enshrined in the Local Content Act 2010. The village head of Urua Essien Etuk, Eteidung God- win George, was one of the community residents said to be affected by the gas pollu- tion. He is said to be currently hospitalised owing to injuries he sustained on his two legs.
Some of the residents alleged that they have been infected with cancerous virus from the village stream/river that BOGEL is alleged to have dumped waste without considering the side effects to the people.
Neglect
Speaking on the development, George decried the insensitivity and poor treatment meted out to them by BOGEL, saying that the company has blatantly neglected them, refusing to pay them compensation for the damages.
He further lamented the at- titude of the management of the company, which according to him, was unfriendly as he disclosed that series of letters were written to the company for negotiation and compensation but their efforts proved abortive.
He appealed to the state Governor, Umo Eno, to wade into the matter in order to bring some succour to the people by attending to their loses and health challenges as well as carrying out remediation on the environment that has been affected badly by the alleged none adherence to standard of operation by the company.
According to him, “I am currently suffering from cancer of the leg through an open wound which I contracted the cancerous virus from the village stream/river that BOGEL dumped without considering the side effects to the people. “My people are helpless. The explosion has also caused
My people are helpless. The explosion has also caused untold hardship for the people as their farmlands, streams/ rivers which remain the only sources of livelihood are badly affected.
untold hardship to the people as their farmlands, streams/ rivers which remain the only sources of livelihood are badly affected. Many of us have health challenges because of the carelessness of BOGEL. “I beg our Governor, Pastor Umo Emo to urgently intervene in the matter before we die. I want the local government and the state to help us and call BOGEL to order because our situation is unbearable.”
Lamentaion
In their separate comments, both the youth leader, Mr Udeme Love Lawrence and the women leader, Mrs Uduak Aniefiok Udoh, confirmed that BOGEL gas explosion has destroyed their farmlands and river, which are their sources livelihood, especially the river, which many of them carry out their fishing businesses.
They lamented that the company has sidelined them in their operation, disclosing that BOGEL has employed only five indigenes of the community since it started opera- tion in the community. They also expressed displeasure over the poor state of their roads, which according to them, have been condemned because of the movement of heavy equipment of BOGEL plying the roads, adding that the palace of the community head is also in very poor state requiring up lift but nobody is coming to their aid, leaving them in the lurch to suffer the harmful effect of the oil company’s operations.
NSCDC visits
Meanwhile, officers of Nigerian Society of Civil Defence Corps recently visited the company to observe the rate of damages caused by the gas explosion following the petition by the community. Addressing the visitors on arrival, the Chief Security Officer of the company, Mr Ekpo Ubaha Mfon, acknowledged the intention of the visit of the NSCDC officers, however, he emphatically told them that he will not allow them access to the company’s facilities.
He adduced several reasons for this, particularly the lack of Personal Protective Equip- ment (PPP), saying that touring the facilities without PPP does not guarantee safety as the visitors and others may be prone to health hazards.
BOGEL keeps mum
Efforts by our correspon- dent to extract detail infor- mation on the gas explosion from the chief security officer proved abortive. Also, attempts to get him to respond to some of the allegations by the community, especially the neglect of the people and refusal to render any CSR as required were parried by him.
