The Eastern Zone of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has criticised the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, over what it described as an inadequate response to the ongoing gas eruption in Bille.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday, the group accused the minister of downplaying the severity of the incident, which has reportedly persisted since November 2025, with continuous emissions of highly flammable gas from both land and surrounding waterways.
The statement, signed by the IYC Eastern Zone Chairman, Datolu Sukubo, described the Federal Government’s reaction as “unacceptable” and lacking the urgency required to address a crisis of such magnitude.
According to the council, the prolonged gas leakage poses significant threats to human lives, public health, and the environment, with residents of the affected community exposed to dangerous conditions on a daily basis.
The group acknowledged that regulatory bodies, including the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), had conducted a joint inspection of the site. However, it lamented that no concrete steps have been taken to contain the situation months after the visit.
Describing the government’s approach as “cosmetic,” the IYC warned that the continued release of gas has already contaminated sources of drinking water, degraded air quality, and severely disrupted the livelihoods of residents in Bille.
It further raised concerns over the risk of a potential explosion, as well as worsening health conditions among locals exposed to the hazardous emissions.
The council called on the Federal Government to immediately implement emergency measures, including the provision of safe drinking water, medical assistance, and relief materials for affected residents.
Insisting that the people of Bille are facing an existential threat, the IYC urged authorities to move beyond inspections and statements, and take decisive action to contain the gas eruption and prevent further environmental and humanitarian damage.
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