BAYESA COMMUNITY DECRIES IMPACT OF OIL SPILL, OCEAN SURGE 25-03-24
By Sadiq Aminu Over three months after an oil spill in Foropa Middleton Kingdom in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the people of the community say succour is yet to come their way.
The monarch of Foropa, Chief Olabai Olozulu, who made this known when he led a delegation of the coastal community’s chiefs on a visit to the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, also stated that in addition to the pollution, the people were suffering the effects of a recent Ocean surge that has rendered many homeless in the area.
The people of Foropa are appealing to government to come to their rescue on the oil spill and menace of ocean encroachment.
Foropa Middleton Kingdom is located off the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean.
On January 3, this year, a major oil spill polluted the environment, destroying the sea and the means of livelihood of many who are mostly fisher men and women.
Nearly four months after, the people of Foropa say they feel abandoned and neglected despite the conduct of a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) on the impact of the spill shortly after the incident occurred with samples of the spilled crude oil collected.
Paramount ruler of the Kingdom, Chief Olabai Olozulu said since then, nothing had been done, leaving the people to wallow in agony in addition to the challenge of Ocean encroachment which has washed off many houses and property at Foropa, appealing for the intervention of the Federal and Bayelsa State government to ameliorate their plight.
In a response, Programme Manager of the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, Bayelsa Office, Chief Alagoa Morris said it was unfortunate that since the oil spill occurred, the people had remained unattended to given the loss of their livelihood, calling for urgent action and advocating the establishment of a Flood and Environmental Commission to tackle the menace of Ocean Encroachment in Coastal communities.
Chief Morris commended the monarch and people of Foropa for their peaceful disposition, urging them to continue to explore all legitimate avenues to address their needs.