Reps worry over mysterious deaths in Bonny, urges NCDC, NEMA, others to come to the rescue

The House of Representatives is worried over the strange occurrence of mysterious deaths in Bonny Island, Rivers state.

In effect, the House at plenary presided by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila enjoined relevant authorities including the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) to wade into the issue with a view to addressing the problem.

The decision followed the adoption of a motion under matters of urgent national importance sponsored by Mr Dagogo Doctor Farah and eleven other lawmakers from the oil-rich Niger Delta region of the country.

The House directed the NCDC to immediately brief its Joint Committee currently investigating the Dead fishes in Bonny and other Niger Delta coastal communities for the necessary intervention of other relevant government agencies and further legislative action.

The House urged the National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA) to provide necessary relief materials to the people of Bonny Island as interim relief.

The House also called on the Federal Government to establish a Federal Medical Center in Bonny to carter for the medical needs of the multinational oil and gas workers and indigenes of the area.

Farah claimed that the unfortunate incidence which has claimed about 13 lives so far is occurring in Bonny Island not long after there was the incidence of large quantities of dead fishes around the Bonny-Andoni shores.

He claimed that the deceased exhibited symptoms to include loss of the sense of smell, taste, fever, weakness, vomiting and stooling not exactly the same as those of COVID-19. as it neither presents cough or respiratory issues.

Stating that Bonny is home to Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited and various multinational oil companies including Royal Dutch Shell, Mobil, Chevron, Agip and Elf, he said it is regrettable that the Island which lacks adequate medical facility can only be accessed via boats and ferries, and without a link, road connecting it to other parts of the Rivers State and the country.

He thereby warned that if the health issue is not contained it could affect the residents and workforce of the NLNG as well as the economy of the country, besides spreading from there to other parts of the Country.