The people of Oporoza, Okpele-Ama/Tebujor, Ikpokpo, Opuedebubo, Opuede, Atanba, Ogbotu, Okerenkokogbene, Gan-Ama Zion, Kala-Ikpokpo, and Maike-Ama communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, have cried out over an oil spillage allegedly from the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company Limited (NPSC)/NNPC Escravos to Warri crude oil truckline.
It was gathered that the spillage which occurred on August, 10, 2024 at Atanba in Gbaramatu Kingdom and has caused massive damage to land, waterways, aquatic lives, fishing materials, rivers, drinking water and others.
Reacting to the spillage in a protest letter by the communities’ solicitor, Eric Omare, which was sent to the Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited; Director General, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA); Zonal Head, NOSDRA, Warri, Delta State; Area Manager, Nigeria Pipeline Storage Company Limited (NPSC), Ekpan, as well as the Zonal Director, Delta State Ministry of Environment, Warri and obtained by SaharaReporters, the communities expressed displeasure over the manner by which the oil companies neglected the communities.
According to the communities, on noticing the massive oil spillage, they promptly reported the incident to the NPSC/NNPC pipeline surveillance workers around the facility on Monday, August 11, 2024 at their Houseboat at Ubafan, near Escravos and demanded a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) but rather than taking urgent steps, NPSC/NNPC neglected them.
The communities alleged that the NPSC/NNPC failed to report the spillage to the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), but instead mobilised its pipeline contractor to repair the spill point without a JIV.
The letter reads, “Our Clients’ state that contrary to the established internationally acceptable standard in the oil and gas industry, your company has failed/refused and neglected to report the spillage to the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) 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 mobilised its pipeline contractor, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited to the site to commenced repair of the spill point without a JIV.
“Because of the fast-moving river current around the point of the spillage, the spillage has affected several communities and people resident within the communities and other neighbouring communities within the Gbaramatu Kingdom who are suffering from the effects of the spillage up till this moment.
“We urge the NPSC/NNPC and relevant authorities to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to ascertain the cause of the spillage and take necessary steps. The communities demand urgent clean-up and remediation, provision of relief materials, assessment of damage, and fair compensation.”
“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, and affected community representatives. The NPSC/NNPC should provide relief materials to the people of the affected communities and assess the extent of damage for fair compensation,” the letter adds.
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