Residents of the communities in Oguta local government area of Imo state said gas flaring has sacked over a hundred households in the Oguta council area of the state.
The Vanguard reports that the residents spoke in Owerri, on Wednesday while pleading for government interventions to end the dangers facing them as regards gas flaring in their communities.
They alleged that gas flaring started over four decades ago and that it has caused them severe health problems. Some of them said it breeds mosquitoes that inflict illnesses on their children and that the situation usually worsens anytime there is flooding.
Others complained that they usually experience hot weather even during rainy seasons or harmattan due to the effect of gas-flaring activities. Some of the affected communities mentioned were but not limited to Umundanike, Umunkwu, Umuosuma, Umunaraukwu, Umunkwocha, Ngegwu, and Umutogwuma among others.
The President General Oguta Community Development Union, OCDU, Sir Uche Faith Iwuorisha JP, said: “Gas flaring is the burning of gas that accompanies oil production. During the extraction of oil gas is released into the atmosphere is a kind of byproduct that could not be used. That fire that is burning is causing serious hazards. Both health hazards and environmental hazards. Including economic waste.
Speaking further, Christian Okororie, Founder of CRESOD said: “We have 27 villages in the Oguta community and all of the citizens are suffering from gas flaring. The hazardous emissions of gas since the exploration of oil and gas started in 1964 to date our air is polluted, water from the rain is filled with sooth, corrugated iron sheets are always corroded with black substances, the production of farm produce, fish, forest and wildlife has been grossly affected by gas flaring.
