By Samuel Oyadongha
Yenagoa—Calm has returned to Kalaba community in old Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, following the stoppage of the gas leakage from a ruptured pipeline owned by the Nigeria Agip Oil Company.

Natives of the community,  had in the last one month been living in fear of likely explosion and fire outbreak in the wake of the gas leakage.

Vanguard learnt that the repair of the leakage point was carried out weekend,  by a team of engineers deployed to the community by the oil company.

The news of the stoppage of the leakage was conveyed to Vanguard by Environment Rights Action, ERA, Project Officer and Head of the Yenagoa Office, Mr Alagoa Morris.
“The gas leakage at Kalaba was finally stopped Saturday June 19, by Agip. The community Paramount Ruler, Chief Idoniboye Nwalia, just hinted me now.”

The leakage it will be recalled was noticed in the early hours of May 18, 2010 by the natives and had since been a source of concern to the community until it was brought under control.

The ruptured pipeline, according to leaders of the community, was laid three months ago without any indication that it was conveying gas.

In a report made available to Vanguard by the ERA Project Officer and Head of the Yenagoa Office,  an independent investigation conduct by a team of field workers from the group showed that from the point of the gas leakage to the main community road was about 200 metres.

The community, it was learnt, had in the past suffered series of oil spillages occasioned by alleged equipment failure leading to the destruction of the natives’ farmland, fishing pond and source of drinking water.