Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People has warned the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited not to cover up the cause of the fresh oil spills in Ogoniland by blaming innocent communities over their own business failures.
Recall that the Dutch oil multinational has experienced two leaks in close proximity on the Trans Niger Pipeline within Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State within 21 days. The first spill, Shell admitted was caused by operational failure.
President of MOSOP, Fegalo Nsuke, expressed shock that a fresh oil spill occurred on Shell’s facility in just three weeks after a burst pipe spilt crude into the same community from the same Shell’s facility.
Nsuke said MOSOP was embarrassed by the frequent oil spills from Shell facility in Ogonialnd, saying that the impacted community needs to prevent attempts by Shell to put up their usual excuse of blaming innocent communities for their business failures.
While commending the people of Bodo for protesting against incessant spills in the area, he said the people must rise up to stop Shell from covering up the cause of the spill and downplaying its impact on the health and wellbeing of the community.
“We are embarrassed to learn of the fresh oil spill in Bodo barely three weeks after a leak into residential areas of the same Bodo community from Shell’s facilities in Ogoni. We are equally impressed with the spontaneous response of the Bodo people who have risen in civil protests against Shell’s carelessness.
“It is important that the community guards against Shell’s usual design to put the blame on the community for their negligence and attempt to cover up the cause and impact of oil spills in the Ogoni region.”
The MOSOP leader emphasized that the new oil spills reverberate the deterioration of Shell’s obsolete facilities and further highlights the company’s callous attitude towards human health and the environment.
He said the recent happenings was a vindication of the Ogoni uprising against Shell’s mismanagement of oil facilities in Ogoni.
“The frequency of these spills vindicates our protests against Shell and speaks volumes regarding the company’s mismanagement of its oil facilities in Ogoni and is only a tip of the iceberg in respect of what we passed through during Shell’s most active years in Ogoni.”
Nsuke urged the people of Ogoni to support the Bodo community at this very crucial moment to ensure that Shell is held to account for its pollution of the lands.
He called for a thorough Joint Investigation Visit to prevent any coverup, urged a proper intervention in relief materials and the subsequent compensation and cleanup of the area.
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