NHRC Commits to Address Gas Leakage in Rivers Community

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has pledged to address the concerns of residents in the Bile community, Rivers State, regarding persistent gas leakage. Zainab Hamma, the Assistant Chief Investigation Officer of the NHRC, made this commitment in Abuja during a documentary presentation by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa.

Hamma stated that the NHRC would investigate the community's issues to safeguard residents' lives and livelihoods. Residents, represented by Timothy Agunbiade, expressed frustration over the ongoing gas seepage despite multiple visits from relevant agencies, including the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA).

Agunbiade emphasized the need for the government to focus on stopping the leakage rather than providing temporary aid. Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, called for urgent government measures to protect the community and suggested establishing a binding timetable for relevant agencies to address the situation effectively.