Senator Konbowei Benson, the voice of Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, reverberated through the hallowed halls of the Nigerian Senate, urging swift and decisive action from the federal government.
The cause of his impassioned plea was the harrowing gas explosions that rocked the serene landscapes near the Gbarain-Ubie gas facility, nestled within the Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Senator Konbowei, while moving a motion on the floor of the Senate during plenary on Wednesday, 22nd May, called on the government to investigate the cause of the spill, its impact and the protection of the environment from further degradation.
The motion also prayed that the operators of the pipeline provide medical assistance and relief materials for those affected while urging the federal government to take measures to safeguard the Gbarain-Ubie gas processing facility and other similar national assets from such threats in the future.
After extensive deliberations, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio assured that the ad-hoc committee set up for the purpose of investigating the unfortunate event will do a thorough job and come up with recommendations that will put an end to such incidents..
He added that there is the need for the evacuation of people from the impacted areas and also urged the ad-hoc committee to come up with recommendations that will serve as a major guide to the prevention of construction of gas facilities near residential areas.
The Gbarain-Ubie gas processing facility processes about two billion standard cubic feet of gas per day and supplies gas to Bonny terminal for export, serving as a major source of foreign exchange earnings for the country.
The Gbarain-Ubie gas facility explosions serve as a stark reminder of the imperative of proactive governance.