22 September 2013, Yenagoa – The people of Ikeinghenbiri in Southern Ijaw Council area of Bayelsa State have expressed concern over the slow response of Nigerian Agip Oil Company to last week oil spill in their community. They lamented that the spill from Agip’s oil field, noticed on Monday, had impacted their community negatively. Deputy paramount ruler of the community, Chief Collins Adikoko, said, yesterday, at the riverside Ikeinghenbiri that though they had reported the spill to the oil firm, it was yet to be fixed.
“The spill resulting from the leakage has exposed members of our community to hazards and untold hardship; we understand the oil is coming from an underwater valve,” Adikoko said. “The first thing we want is for them to stop the oil from leaking into our creeks and ponds, but six days after we reported, nothing has happened, we want them to hasten their response.”. The community, he said, had experienced frequent spills from the oil fields in the area operated by Agip which adversely affected the fishing occupation of the residents.
He called on the company to deploy its response team to commence immediate clean up and work out plans to ameliorate the sufferings of the fishermen affected.
The deputy paramount ruler noted that oil bearing communities who suffered the negative impact of oil exploration and production deserved special consideration by the oil firms in the provision of social amenities.
Officials of Nigerian Agip Oil Company have scheduled a joint investigative visit of the spill site with representatives of the community and oil industry regulators.
Mr Marshall Josiah, Chairman of Ikeinghenbiri Community Development Committee, said that officials of the oil firm had visited the spill site ahead of the joint visit from September 23.
*Samuel Oyadongha, Vanguard
