Men from the Enugu State Fire Service have effectively extinguished a gas flare that erupted during a borehole drilling operation at the Federal Housing Estate in Ugwogo Nike, Enugu State. The state government has restated its commitment to converting dormant gas and other mineral resources into productive assets.
The Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Prof. Sam Ugwu, issued a warning against drilling boreholes without authorization from the State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and other relevant government agencies. He made these statements during an inspection of the gas flare incident at Nike.
The gas flare incident occurred at approximately 10:30 pm on a Saturday and continued into the early hours of Sunday, causing alarm among rig operators and residents in the area. The prompt intervention of the State Fire Service, led by Chief Fire Officer Engr. Okwudiri Ohaa, prevented the situation from escalating.
Commissioner Ugwu emphasized the importance of following environmental regulations and obtaining the necessary permits. He stated that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) should have been conducted by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, and a letter of commencement issued before drilling activities began.
Chief Fire Officer Engr. Ohaa revealed that the experience gained during a similar gas eruption near Caritas University, Nike, enabled them to take the appropriate measures to stop the gas flare. He acknowledged the government’s support in financing their emergency response efforts.
Residents of the area were cautioned to respect the cordoned-off area and avoid approaching the site with any open flames. The fire service personnel will remain on-site until the gas flow is entirely stopped.
A resident of the estate, Engr. Boniface Ogbueje, commended the State Fire Service for its prompt response and successful containment of the situation. He described the incident as causing panic and chaos but praised the firefighters for their effective control.
A staff member of the drilling firm, Orange Drilling Company, Kamarudeen Ado, explained that they were taken by surprise as they did not expect the presence of natural gas in the water being pumped up. Thankfully, there were no reported casualties or property damage, and any injured individuals received treatment in a hospital.
