Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri Southwest Local Government Area of Delta State have demanded justice and urgent action over a devastating oil spill incident that has ravaged their lands, waterways, fishing materials, drinking water, aquatic lives, and livelihoods.
The oil spillage which occurred earlier this month at Atanba, from the Escravos-Warri trunkline operated by the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company Limited, NPSC (a subsidiary of NNPC Ltd) has caused widespread destruction to the environment and displacement of communities.
The affected communities, including Oporoza, Okpele-Ama/Tebujor, Ikpokpo, Opuedebubo, Opuede, Atanba, Ogbotu, Okerenkokogbene, Gan-Ama Zion, Kala-Ikpokpo, and Maike-Ama in Gbaramatu kingdom, have accused NPSC and NNPCL of negligence and failure to report the incident to the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA.
Solicitor to the impacted communities, Eric K. Omare, in a protest letter to the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, the Director General of NOSDRA, the Area Manager of NPSC, Delta State Ministry of Environment, and other relevant authorities, accused NPSC of mobilizing its contractor to repair the spill point without a Joint Investigation Visit.
Omare in the letter demanded urgent clean-up and remediation, provision of relief materials, assessment of damage, and fair compensation while urging NPSC/NNPCL and relevant authorities to conduct the statutory JIV to ascertain the cause of the spillage and take necessary steps.
The protest letter was written by the counsel on behalf of accredited representatives of the communities, namely Messrs Godwin Fibade, Lucky Bebenimibo, Elisah Odudu, Theophilus Emotimide, Mackson Ode, Jonathan Micah, Christopher Mala, Shadrach Tangbe, Sufficient Kpefe, Profit Omula and Precious Racce.
They disclosed that due to the fast-moving river current around the spill point, the spillage has affected several communities and people residents within the communities and other neighbouring communities within Gbaramatu Kingdom who are suffering from the effects of the spillage up till this moment.
The letter reads, “Contrary to the established internationally acceptable standard in the oil and gas industry, your company has failed and neglected to report the spillage to the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency to carry out a Joint Investigation Visit to the site of the spillage to ascertain the cause of the spillage and take necessary steps.
“It is our Clients’ further brief that instead of carrying out JIV with the relevant stakeholders as required by law, the NPSC/NNPC mobilized its pipeline contractor, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited to the site to commence repair of the spill point without a JIV.
“The spillage has caused colossal damages to our lands, waterways, fishing materials, drinking water, and aquatic lives.
“We demand a Joint Investigation Visit comprising officials of NOSDRA, NPSC/NNPC, relevant authorities, and affected community representatives, to ascertain the cause of the spill, volume of the spill, and extent of devastation.
“The NPSC/NNPC should provide relief materials to the people of the affected communities and assess the extent of damage for fair compensation,” Omare stated in the letter.
