Residents and traders along Punch Road, Imgbi, Amarata, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, have accused a newly established Rainoil gas plant of worsening the condition of parts of the road, alleging that water from the facility has been flowing onto the road.
The residents, who spoke with journalists on Monday, alleged that the lack of adequate drainage around the facility had resulted in water spreading across the road, causing potholes and inconveniencing pedestrians and traders in the area.
A businessman in the area, Mr. Imo Charles Chikezie, said the gas plant, which started operations earlier in the year, was without adequate drainage to channel water away from the premises.
Chikezie said, “It is disheartening that a gas plant of this magnitude does not have adequate drainage. Whatever water comes into the place has nowhere to pass except through the road, thereby spoiling Punch Road.”
He said the issue had previously been reported to the company through the sanitation authority and the Amarata community, urging the management of Rainoil, the government and relevant authorities to intervene before the road deteriorated further.
He suggested that the company should construct a drainage system connected to the existing government drainage facility, saying this would prevent further damage to the road.
Also speaking, the caretaker of a building and businessman in the area, Mr. Ahanna Cyril, said residents began noticing water coming from the ground after the company completed its construction work.
Cyril said the persistent water had affected businesses in the area by discouraging customers from visiting, while also contributing to the deterioration of the road.
He said, “Even when it is sunny, the road is wet and everywhere is filled with water. When cars pass, the water splashes on people. We have called the manager and tried to see how they could put a drainage here, but to no avail.”
Cyril appealed to the government to intervene, suggesting that the company be made to provide a drainage system to channel the water into the existing drainage network.
Another trader in the area, Chinyere Ejike, said the water was also affecting her business, adding that some customers were reluctant to pass through the affected area.
She said residents had complained to the company’s management and appealed to the government to intervene by ensuring that a drainage system was provided to channel the water away from the road.
However, responding on behalf of the company, the branch manager, Engr. Joe, said the water was not being discharged from the gas plant but was coming from underground.
Joe explained that the area was formerly a dumpsite and had undergone reclamation, adding that there had been water in the area because of the nature of the terrain.
He said, “The water is coming out from the ground, not particularly from rain or oil. Our sprinkler is not on, so we cannot manage water that is coming out from the ground.”
The branch manager acknowledged that the community had raised concerns about the situation, saying he had brought the matter to the attention of his line managers for further assessment. 
He said the company’s engineers would inspect the area to determine what could be done, adding that the Rainoil would seek a solution despite its position that the source of the underground water was beyond its control.
He added that the company was committed to avoiding actions that would inconvenience its host community, assuring the residents that their concerns were not being ignored.
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