Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has promised succour within one week for communities affected in the Chevron Nigeria gas explosion, which occurred over a month ago.

She also pledged Federal Government’s commitment to providing lasting solution to the rising incidence of environmental pollution caused by oil and gas exploration and production activities in the Niger Delta.

The minister made the promise during an assessment tour of some communities believed to have been impacted by the recent gas rig explosion at Chevron Nigeria’s Funiwa field operated KS Endeavour.

She said: “We have done the aerial survey, we have seen, and also heard from the community leaders and youths. The next thing is to report back to the President and within the next one week response will be provided  to the community leaders.”

The minister’s pledge is the first official comment from government since the gas rig exploded over a month ago, in which two foreign oil workers were declared dead.

Affected communities had cried out for rescue from the damages caused by the fire, which they said had destroyed their aquatic life, and in turn, denied them of their daily means of livelihood since indigenes were mainly farmers.

Madueke was quoted as saying that her ministry will galvanise the International Oil Companies, IOCs, as well as the host communities to ensure that the operating environment is made safe for all concerned in line with international best practices.

On January 16, Chevron reported a fire outbreak aboard the shallow-water jack-up drilling rig KS Endeavor in which two people died. The Funiwa 5 is a new gas platform along the Kolu-Ama River in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The rig was drilling a natural gas exploration well approximately six miles (10 km) off the coast of Nigeria and in roughly 40 feet (12 m) of water.

The resultant gas fire which has since diminished to a marginal level brought to the fore the perennial challenge of environmental pollution and degradation in the oil bearing region.

The statement also said that the minister undertook an aerial survey of eight host communities spread across Southern Ijaw and Brass Local Government Areas (Koluama 1, Koluma 11, Ekeni, Foropa, Fishtown, Ezetu 1, Ezetu 11 and Sanga, Mrs. Alison-Madueke assured the community that the President is determined to bring the suffering of oil producing areas to an end.

Responding on behalf of the community, His Royal Highness, Mienye Newton, the Ama-nana-wei of Kolu-Ama 11, pledged the readiness of the entire clan to work with the Petroleum Ministry as well as the IOCs to ensure clean environment and the much needed development of the area.

The traditional ruler, Ama-nana-wei of Kolu-Ama 1, HRH Jeremiah Lechemo, commenting, said, “The visit by the minister has made us to forget about the pain we are going through, though the pinch is still there but this is the first time we are feeling federal government’s presence in our midst.”

Chairman of the Keffes Rural Development Foundation, Mr. Christopher Tuodo, called on the minister to fast track the supply of relief materials to the people as well as provide urgent medical assessment team to undertake a comprehensive appraisal of the situation.