A Press Briefing to the Edo State Government and Other Stakeholders on the Health Impacts of Gas Flaring on the Gelegele People, 07th February 2025.
The Ecological Action Advocacy Foundation (TEAAF), in Benin City, Edo State on Tuesday 21st January 2025 has called on the Edo State Governor, Sen Monday Okpebhole, and the Management of Dubril Oil Company (Owners of the Oil installation working in the community) to come to as a matter of urgency attend to the health emergency needs of the people of Gelegele community.
In a statement made available to the Press today 7th February 2025 by the Communications Manager Omozuwa E. Ugbogbo, stated that the people of Gelegele, a coastal community in Edo State, have for years endured the devastating health and environmental consequences of gas flaring from oil exploration activities in the region. As concerned stakeholders, we call on the Edo State Government to take immediate and decisive action to address this public health crisis and safeguard the well-being of the affected communities.
According to Omozuwa "The Press statement was necessitated by the recent program carried out in the community titled Building the Resilience of Gelegele Community people against gas flaring. The project had as one of its activities a health audit and assessments of the impacts of gas flaring in the lives and livelihoods of the Gelegele community people" mostly impacted are women and children.
During the health audit and medical outreach, free medical care and drugs were given to the people, and eye tests and checks were carried out as well. The medical experts who were present (Opticians, Paramedics, Pharmacists, Nurses, and Paediatricians) observed that Gas flaring has caused a lot of damage to the health of the people, aside from the health impacts it has also affected the means of livelihood of the people and their mental health.
The experts observed that over 98% of the Gelegele community people are affected by Cataracts most especially the elderlies, an eyesight problem caused by the impacts of gas flaring (constant exposure to light both night and day) and most of them are rapidly going blind and are in dire need of urgent eye care and surgery because if this is not done in the next few years more than half of the community people would have gone blind.
“The Health and socio-economic situation of the Gelegele People is in dire need of urgent intervention, so far what we have seen in the community is not something that a single organization can do alone, the people are suffering and from what we observed while carrying our intervention is that more than half of the population in the community are going blind, the government and the oil company need to do the needful urgently" Ajirioghene Offi, Program Director TEAAF.
"Living in Gelegele has been a constant struggle. The gas flaring has polluted our air and water, causing endless health problems. I've seen friends and family suffer from respiratory diseases,skin conditions and eye problems. The lack of access to medical care and specialized services like eye surgery has made our situation even more desperate. We urgently need medical attention and support to alleviate our suffering and improve our quality of life. We are almost going blind."Comrade Cynthia Buluebiere Bright, Director GWEDO
"About 30% of the elderly are faced with visual(sight) impairments the other 30% are faced with both visual( sight) impairments & skin irritation all as a result of the effect of gas flaring while the remaining 40% are faced with hypertension, diabetes, visual impairments and skin irritation and a good number of the middle-aged about 70% are largely affected by skin irritations, while the remaining 30% are affected by both skin irritations, visual impairments and some had hypertension as well. The children are faced with infections like malaria, sepsis, skin irritation which are due to the unhealthy and unhygienic environment polluted by gas emissions, thus most children come with respiratory-related illnesses, gastroenteritis, and all these illnesses are easily transmitted to children when the environment is unfavorable.
The Gelegele people need urgent and consistent medical and environmental rehabilitation". Dr. Avabore Nicholas a senior medical officer at Benin Medical Care, Modic Medical Center.
“The effect of the gas flaring from the oil exploration company has an adverse effect on the oculat health conditions of the Indigenous community.
The prevalence of cataracts most especially for individuals between the ages of 45 and above, was seen during the course of the outreach program.
About 90% of the population between the ages of 50 and above have cataracts and 95% of the population between 40 and above need prescribed glasses. There is a need for a better health care system and a cataract outreach screening to aid the failing eye health of the community members.
Overall, it was an impactful outreach’’. Dr. Dingwo Healson and Dr. Edemu Precious, Opticians UBTH
From our research, observation, and based on scientific evidence we have seen that gas flaring releases harmful pollutants, including carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds harmful to the environment.
Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts
Beyond health implications, gas flaring has also caused severe environmental degradation, leading to soil infertility, water contamination, and biodiversity loss. These challenges have exacerbated poverty and food insecurity within the Gelegele community, which largely depends on fishing and farming for livelihood.
Our demands
We hereby demand that the
1. Implementation of Strict Regulations: Enforce existing environmental laws and ensure oil companies operating in the region adopt cleaner technologies and best practices.
2. Health Intervention Programs: Establish medical outreach programs to provide healthcare services and early detection of gas flare-related illnesses in the community.
3. Urgent Environmental Remediation Efforts: Urge Dubril oil to relocate, put off the gas flare stack or re-inject the flared gases and initiate clean-up projects and introduce sustainable solutions to restore the environment and support affected livelihoods.
4. More Community Engagement and Awareness: Educate the people of Gelegele on the health risks of gas flaring and empower them with knowledge on how to mitigate exposure.
5. Collaborate with Federal Agencies: Work with relevant federal bodies to hold oil companies accountable and ensure compliance with environmental standards.
The time to act is now. The health and future of the Gelegele people should not be compromised for industrial gains. We trust the Edo State Government will rise to the occasion and prioritize the welfare of its citizens.
Signed
The Ecological Action Advocacy Foundation (TEAAF)
Omozuwa E. U, Communications Manager.
Email: ecoactors@yahoo.com
