Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited has confirmed an oil spill incident which occurred from its well 24 in Opukushi, Egbemo-Angalabiri community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Recall that oil spill from the facility flooded the surrounding creeks and waterways in Angalabiri community and neighbouring Koromotoru, Azagbene and Bilabiri communities, while JIV has been inconclusive weeks after the incident.
SPDC Media Relations Manager, Mr Bamidele Odugbesan, confirmed that the said spill which discharged a yet to be ascertained volume of crude into the environment, occurred on June 15th 2021.
Odugbesan dismissed claims that the oil firm was yet to response to the spill and said that the leak was promptly contained within SPDC’s right of way.
“On Tuesday 15 June 2021, a leak was reported at a facility of The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited Joint Venture at Opukushi in Ekeremo Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
“Following which The SPDC Emergency Response Team was promptly mobilised and they stopped and contained the spill within the SPDC JV right of way.
“Spill cleanup is progressing while the Joint Investigation report is being finalised for sign-off by the JIV team comprising representatives of regulatory and relevant government agencies, community and SPDC.” Odugbesan said.
Mewnwhile residents of the communities impacted by the oil spills, have raised the alarm over the effects of the pollution caused by the oil spills and claimed that clean-up was yet to be carried out.
A community leader, Chief Bidei Oyinmo, called on the Federal Government and the relevant regulatory agencies responsible for the protection of the environment and prevention of oil spills to come to their aid.
Oyinmo said that since the spill occurred, nothing had been done to remediate the environment, stressing that the development had negatively impacted the predominantly fishing and farming settlement.
“The spill has threatened our means of livelihoods and made things difficult for the fishermen and the women both in the neighbouring Koromotoru, Azagbene and Bilabiri communities since about a month now.”
