Edo demands end to gas flaring in Gelegele, support from Dubril

The Edo State government has urged Dubril Oil Company to stop gas flaring in Gelegele, in Ovia North East Local Government Area and do more to alleviate the suffering of the people by focusing on Corporate Social Responsibility.

Edo State Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Joshua Omokhodion, who represented Governor Godwin Obaseki, stated this at a stakeholders meeting in Benin on Tuesday.

The governor also urged Dubril Oil to capture and liquefy the gas being flared in the centre of the community with modern technology to prevent the women from health hazards.

He said, “I must charge Dubril Oil to use modern technology to liquefy the gas that is being flared in Gelegele. This will protect the women and the community from health hazards.

“The company should also carry out its CSR for the benefit of the people. It is not enough for the company to say that it built a clinic and handed it over to the government.

“It should take a step further by ensuring that the clinic it built is well-equipped and has drugs always to take care of the health challenges of the people.”

The Executive Director of the Gbolekekro Women Empowerment and Development Organisation, Cynthia Bright, commended the governor for sending representatives to address the issues concerning the impact of gas flaring at the meeting.

Bright said GWEDO’s research on climate change and the impact of gas flaring on the health of women was presented to the Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability.

She said, “Gas flaring has negatively impacted the health and livelihood of the women, children and community members. The community lacks basic amenities like clean water and a functional health facility which has worsened their condition.

“However, the presence of representatives from the governor’s office strengthened our campaign for action to save Gelegele women and indigenes.

“We are particularly grateful to the Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability and the Climate Change Director, Kenneth Woghuien, for the strong support to GWEDO, which made the stakeholders meeting both possible and fruitful. Without their help, our efforts would have been in vain.”

Meanwhile, Dubril Oil Company representatives, the Head of Human Resources, Esohe Aimokhai and the

Principal Engineer, Bika Adulrouf, agreed to take the reports back to their Director so they can commence the remediation process towards December 2024 and also agreed to an immediate reduction of the intensity of the gas flare as a way of gradually working towards zero emission.

She also thanked the Urgent Action Fund for supporting the project for successful advocacy and the research carried out.

Bright noted that a timeline was agreed on between the representative of the oil company and the governor’s representatives for a proper mitigation process.