Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — A team of representatives from Olegh Centre for Community Development and Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, two non-governmental organisations, paid a courtesy visit to the Director-General and Management Staff of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA,
The visit was aimed at addressing pressing environmental concerns in the Niger Delta, as well as advocating for stronger enforcement of environmental regulations in Nigeria’s critical petroleum industry.
Dr. Sam-Gabriel Ifeoma, one of the representatives of Kebetkache, stated that they were grateful for the honour given to them to meet with the DG of NOSDRA, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke.
During the meeting, Mr. Jacob Iniodu, the Team Lead of Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, in his brief on-behalf of their Director, Chief Emem Bridget who was unavoidably absent, emphasized the organisation’s commitment to amplifying the voice of grassroots women in the Niger Delta region on issues related to extractive industries, good governance, climate change and women’s rights, emphasizing that their strategies to achieving their aim was through advocacy visit, sensitizations, research and capacity building for the gender.
Mr. Iniodu reiterated the need for women’s concerns to be heard at local, federal and regional levels, while letting the DG of NOSDRA know that the headquarters of their organisation is in Portharcourt, with branches across the Niger Delta states.
Similarly, Mr. Henry Eferegbo, Executive Director, OLEGH Centre, said: “OLEGH and Kebetkache were partners and had done a lot together, hence the need to carry out the courtesy visit to the DG and the Management Staff of NOSDRA”
Eferegbo highlighted key issues affecting Niger Delta communities, including Sterling Global’s operations reportedly operating in some Rivers State’s communities around Emohua LGA, including Rumuakunde, Rumuewhor, Ubimini and part of Ogbakiri without an Environmental Impact Assessment, thereby leading to degradation in their environment.
He further stated that they carried out a study in a community called Otuabagi in Bayelsa State, which was the first place where oil well was drilled in the state.
According to him, their findings revealed crude oil in the blood of over 60 women, raising serious health concerns, therefore pleading with NOSDRA if there could be a remedial way for a health impact to be conducted to save the lives of women who live in the locality.
Mr. Eferegbo disclosed that decommissioned wells of over 30 years in Otuabagi community were still leaking crude oil, alas contaminating land and water sources.
He also mentioned the issue of Ibaa community that woke up to see crude oil in their water wells, which posed severe health risks, including cancer.
Eferegbo suggested that there should be a policy review for oil spill reporting and advocating for communities to participate in such activities instead of relying solely on oil companies.
In his address, the DG of NOSDRA, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, welcomed the delegations from the two NGOs, thanking them for having confidence in the Agency.
Engr. Woke clarified the team of the core mandate of the Agency, which is to implement the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan, NOSCP, and to ensure that every spill in oil and gas is taken care of.
He also acknowledged the concerns raised by the team concerning the activities of Sterling Global, while stressing the importance of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report of such activities and restoring the Otuabagi community, as well as accountability and transparency in the nation’s petroleum industry.
The DG attested that one of the most important issues raised was the environmental restoration efforts in Ibaa community, adding that staff of Oil Field Assessment and Special Duties Departments of NOSDRA had visited the place following the invitation of the agency to witness some of the activities geared towards environmental restoration there.
He also disclosed that the NOSDRA Reference Laboratory in Port Harcourt was actively participating in the certification of the remediation exercise in that community.
He added: “In order not to contradict ourselves and other government agencies, sincerely speaking, there are some issues you raised here that are not strictly our responsibilities but, as government agencies, we interact and share ideas”.
Engr. Woke emphasised that NOSDRA will not favour any operator or company but will ensure that all stakeholders comply with Nigeria’s environmental laws in the petroleum industry so that our communities and environment will be preserved, adding that one of the primary aims of the Federal Government for setting up the agency was to ensure that the local communities were protected.
He assured continued cooperation with OLEGH and Kebetkache Women Development Centre to ensure community health and environmental justice.
