BAYELSA OIL SPILL SPREADS TO SWAMPS, CREEK AT OGBOINBIRI 16-09-24
By Sadiq Aminu A crude oil spill from the Ogboinbiri-Tebidaba pipeline is spreading along Ogboinbiri and neighbouring communities along the Creeks of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
A Joint Investigation Visit indicated that the spill which was caused by equipment failure from the facility inherited by OandO from Nigeria Agip Oil Company has already discharged two hundred and seventeen barrels of crude oil into the swamps and rivers around the vicinity.
The people of Ogboinbiri have called for comprehensive cleanup and remediation of the polluted environment.
Ogboinbiri, an oil rich community located along the Apoi Creek is host to a flow station, pipelines and over 40 oil wells formerly operated by Nigeria Agip Oil Company but now run by OandO following the completion of the 783 million Dollar acquisition of the ENI subsidiary, NAOC through divestment last month.
Apart from the negative impacts suffered by the people to frequent gas flaring close to the community, Ogboinbiri has endured negative environmental practices in which the multinational oil company has set oil spill impacted sites on fire instead of proper cleanup and remediation of such environment.
The area suffers gales of crude oil spill with the latest happening on September 5 this year from the 14’’ Ogboinbiri/Tebidaba pipeline following an equipment failure and, a rupture at 6 0’Clock position directly under the pipe with about 217 barrels spewed into the swamps, fish ponds and farms.
The Paramount ruler of the community, Chief Okosughe Eseimokumo said Ogboinbiri has consistently experienced oil spill cases polluting the environment and impacting on the lives and sources of livelihood of the people.
Some natives and farmers, Maxwell Oseke and Ikainka Genesis say with the peak of the rainy season here, the spill is likely to spread farther calling for proper cleanup and restoration of the environment.
The advocacy group, Environmental Defenders Network, through its Deputy Executive Director, Chief Alagoa Morris urged regulatory agencies to ensure that oil companies respond promptly and practically to contain oil spills and carry out urgent and proper cleanup to save the environment and marine ecosystems from destruction.
Locals and environmental rights activists cautioned against the practice of setting oil spill sites on fire as practiced during the 2021 incident by NAOC.
OandO has yet to react to reports of the spill at Ogboinbiri.