Gas flaring takes toll on children, residents in Rivers oil-producing communities

Residents of oil-producing communities in Rivers State continue to face serious health and environmental challenges as persistent gas flaring and gas seepage expose thousands to harmful pollutants, despite repeated government commitments to end the practice.

An investigative report by journalist Dare Akogun highlights the devastating impact of decades of gas flaring on communities in the Niger Delta, linking the practice to rising cases of respiratory illnesses, skin diseases and other health complications, particularly among children.

Gas flaring, a process in which natural gas released during crude oil production is burned into the atmosphere, emits pollutants including soot, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and other hazardous substances known to affect human health and the environment.

Healthcare workers in several affected communities say they regularly treat children suffering from breathing difficulties, persistent coughs and skin infections, conditions they believe are aggravated by prolonged exposure to polluted air.

One health worker, who spoke anonymously, said hospitals in the region receive frequent cases involving children with respiratory complications.

“Children are brought here almost every day with breathing problems and various skin conditions. While pollution may not be the sole cause of illness, prolonged exposure weakens their health and makes them more vulnerable to severe infections,” the health worker said.

Beyond gas flaring, residents of Bille Community in Degema Local Government Area have also been grappling with a prolonged gas seepage incident that has reportedly contaminated parts of the environment and affected sources of drinking water.

The situation has prompted intervention by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), which confirmed that investigations into the cause of the seepage are ongoing.

During a recent visit to the affected community, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, assured residents that the Federal Government was committed to addressing the environmental emergency.

“The Federal Government is doing everything possible to ensure that the gas seepage is brought under control. Investigations are ongoing, and we remain committed to resolving the situation and restoring the environment,” he said.

The Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe, disclosed that preliminary assessments indicate contamination of the area’s shallow groundwater and that an international remediation firm has been engaged to conduct further technical studies and environmental cleanup.

Environmental experts have long warned that continuous exposure to emissions from gas flaring can contribute to respiratory diseases, environmental degradation and climate change.

Civil society organisations and environmental advocates have also renewed calls for stricter enforcement of environmental regulations, arguing that oil companies should be compelled to invest in gas capture infrastructure rather than continue routine gas flaring.

They maintain that while Nigeria has made international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and eliminate routine gas flaring, stronger enforcement and sustained investment are needed to protect the health and livelihoods of communities in the Niger Delta.

Community leaders have also urged the Federal Government and oil companies to move beyond temporary relief measures by implementing lasting environmental remediation and providing adequate healthcare support for residents affected by pollution.