Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, SPDC, has failed to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, over alleged discharged of toxic waste into the Atlantic ocean.
Recall that stakeholders had petitioned the National Assembly over alleged SPDC discharge of hydrocarbon waste from its Forcados terminal, as the cause of the death of croaker fish specie along the Niger Delta coastlines. An allegation which the company has denied.
Appearing before the Senate Committee, stakeholders from Akassa, Koluama, Sangana and Odimodi communities in Bayelsa and Delta States, as well as the Centre for Environmental Preservation and Development, CEPAD, from their presentations with photographs and video clips, accused SPDC of culpability.
The Youth President of Odimodi community, Edisemi Akin, also accused the oil firm of culpability.
In his presentation, the Chairman of CEPAD, Furoebi Akene, alleged that the toxic waste was discharged at valve-3 of SPDC waste disposal line in Osiagbene, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.
“The discharge is from valve No. 3 of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria SPDC waste disposal line WDL around Osiagbene in the Odimodi Clan in the Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.
“The waste disposal line is the delivery line designated as a waste disposal line from the Forcados terminal to the Atlantic Ocean.”
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Present at the hearing was the Director General of NOSDRA, Mr Idris Musa, and his team, but SPDC did not appear at the Senate Committee’s hearing.
After hearing from the petitioners, their team of experts, and the DG of NOSDRA, Chairman of the Senate Committee, Sen. Ayo Akinyelure, adjourned to reconvene next week Tuesday, 14th of July 2020 with a clear order for SPDC to appear that day.
Meanwhile, SPDC is yet to respond to this report as at the time of filing the report. .
