Abuja — The Federal Government and other relevant agencies have been called upon to prevail on Shell Petroleum Development Company to stop gas flaring at Owaza, an oil-rich community in Abia.

Eze Obioma Nworgu, the traditional ruler of Etiti Oha autonomous community in Owaza, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Nworgu said that the weekly gas flaring by Shell was having adverse effects on the health of the people, especially new-born babies.

He said the act had damaged corrugated roofs of many buildings in the community and that emissions from gas flaring heat up the atmosphere and made it difficult for people to sleep at night.

Nworgu expressed concern that the community, which has no pipe-borne water, could no longer drink from rainwater because of pollution from gas flaring.

He said that the community had written several petitions to the company to stop the practice, which started more than two years ago, to no avail.

The traditional ruler further explained that the major challenge facing the community was youth unemployment, saying that more than thirty graduates from the community had no jobs.

He described the development as worrisome and appealed to Shell, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), local, state and federal governments to give waivers for the employment of youths from the community.

Nworgu added that Owaza lacked infrastructure and basic social amenities, such as good roads, electricity, and general hospital, saying "there is nothing to show that we are an oil-producing community".

He said the expectations of the community that NDDC would address the essential needs of the people had been dashed, as Owaza had not benefited anything from the commission since its inception.(NAN)