July 09, (THEWILL) – Indigenes of the Olugboboro community in the Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State have cried out over a massive leakage of crude oil from the pipeline operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC in the area.
According to the Olugboboro indigenes, the spillage occurred about two months ago along the Ogboinbiri/Tebitada pipeline when the pipeline ruptured which has been attributed to equipment failure.
The leader of the Olugboboro Community, Chief Azeke Matthew
Akpowari, Chief Ebimobowei Kenbo
Ipkesiware and Assistant Secretary General, Amos Oweifighe, in a letter to the Bayelsa Government, called for urgent intervention to stop the oil spill, “We wish to register our utter displeasure and intimate you of the inaction of Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, to the oil spillage that occurred in a pipeline operated by the company, at Olugboboro community in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State.”
They stated: “The spillage occurred about two months ago along the Ogboinbiri/Tebitada pipeline when the pipeline ruptured which has been attributed to equipment failure. As a result, for about two months, crude oil has been gushing out from the pipeline, thereby devastating a large swath of farmlands, ponds, economic trees and lakes in the forest.
“It will be difficult to quantify the damage wrecked on the people’s livelihood and the environment, because of the huge quantities of crude oil spilled.
“It would be pertinent to note that Biedinobou where the equipment failure occurred is a major farming and fishing hub of the community. Hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude oil have been spilled since sometime in May this year when the pipeline ruptured; thereby turning farmlands, lakes and ponds into rivers of crude oil.
“Consequently, collateral damage has been done to farms, economic trees, ponds and lakes; which are the mainstay of the people in the Biedinobou forest for the past two months since the pipeline began to seep crude oil into the environment. We are in a rainy season, it is aiding the fast spread of the spill to distant areas and rivers.
“Agip has been informed of the ugly incident, however to date, it has not made any attempt to contain the spillage from further polluting and degrading the environment.
“Sir, we cannot comprehend why Agip has allowed the spill to continue to destroy the environment, given the negative implications of the pollution on the people’s health, livelihood, animals, aquatic life and the general environment.
“The refusal of Agip to contain the spill has shown its crass disregard for the plight of the people and the environment. In light of the above, we urge you to wade into the matter and we demand the following: Agip should mobilise to the site immediately and contain the spill, clean up and rehabilitate the environment.
“Send relief materials and pay adequate compensation to the community to ameliorate their suffering. We hereby attached photocopies of the spill for your perusal.”
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
