By Miriam Humbe
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has provided emergency responses to the gas seepage incidents in Bille Community, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, and Uzere Kingdom, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, through the provision of humanitarian assistance, technical assessments and coordinated engagement with relevant stakeholders.
Manzo Ezekiel, NEMA Head of Press Unit disclosed this in a statement signed on Saturday.
In Rivers State, the Agency recently distributed relief materials to persons affected by gas seepage in Bille Community, following an earlier assessment of the incident and its impact on residents.
The Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, was represented at the distribution exercise by the Head of the Agency’s Port Harcourt Operations Office, Mr. Chidi Ogundu, who coordinated the intervention.
As part of the exercise, the NEMA delegation paid a courtesy visit to the King of Bille Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, King Igbikingeri Ngowari Cornelius, during which Mr. Ogundu conveyed the sympathy and solidarity of the Director General to the monarch and the affected community.
Addressing community members during the distribution, Mr. Ogundu explained that the intervention by the Federal Government through NEMA was aimed at alleviating the immediate humanitarian needs of affected residents through the provision of essential food supplies and other relief materials.
Representatives of the Rivers State Emergency Management Agency (RISEMA), the Nigerian Red Cross Society and other relevant stakeholders participated in the exercise.
Community leaders expressed appreciation to the Federal Government through NEMA for the intervention, particularly commending the Director General for the timely humanitarian assistance provided to cushion the hardship experienced by affected residents.
Similarly, in Delta State, NEMA coordinated a multi-stakeholder technical mission to Uzere Kingdom in Isoko South Local Government Area from 3rd to 4th November 2026, following reports of gas seepage in the community. The Director General of NEMA Mrs Zubaida Umar was represented by the Director of Planning Research and Forecasting Dr Godwin Tepikor.
The interventions in Rivers and Delta States reflect NEMA’s integrated approach to disaster management, which combines humanitarian assistance, technical assessments, inter-agency coordination and sustained engagement with affected communities.
