SOUTHERN IJAW COMMUNITIES CRY OUT OVER FRESH OIL SPILL FROM OANDO PIPELINE 11-10-24
By Sadiq Aminu A fresh oil spill has erupted from the Ogboinbiri-Tebidaba pipeline in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.The incident which was first noticed on Friday, October four, Twenty-Twenty-Four is spewing crude into rivulets and forests around the Apoi Creek.
Natives of impacted communities such as Keme-Ebiama, Ogboinbiri and others say their source of water, farmlands, fishing gears, swamps, crops and environment have been polluted.
Just about a month ago, specifically on September 5 this year a spill occurred at the Ogboinbiri-Tebidaba pipeline caused by equipment failure and, a rupture at 6 0’Clock position directly under the facility inherited by Oand O from Nigeria Agip Oil Company discharging hundreds of barrels of crude oil into Apoi Creek, swamps and farmlands around the vicinity.
Last Friday, a fresh spill was reported with crude bubbling out of the pipeline buried under the water connecting the Ogiori stream flowing to the Apoi Creek.
The Spill which has spread for about a week now due to rising flood levels has impacted adversely on the Apoi Creek and swathes of marshland and farmlands of Apoi clan in Southern Ijaw with communities such as Keme-Ebiama, Kokologbeni, Gbaraun, Apoi and as far as Ukubie.
Chief Newstyle Ogiori , Chairman, Council of Chiefs of Keme-Ebiama, said with the pollution of the water bodies in the area, their source of water and other means of livelihood had been affected.
Two natives, Mr. Timi Koripamo, and Mrs. Gradeone Nikki who spoke in Izon say they have always been on the receiving end of crude oil exploitation and exploration activities, calling for proper clean up and compensation.
Paramount ruler of Ogboinbiri, Chief Okosughe Eseimokumo who noted that the previous oil spill has not been cleaned up, and no relief materials given to the affected communities, warned that with the ongoing pollution, there would be a challenge to food security in the area.
Deputy Executive Director of the Environmental Defenders Network, Chief Alagoa Morris who visited the spill site for on the spot assessment called on O and O and other multinationals to put an end to frequent oil spills by replacing ageing pipeline and other infrastructure.
Only some days ago, the House of Representatives House Committee on Environment issued a 7-day ultimatum to Oando and AITEO Chief Executives to appear before it in connection to the worsening environmental degradation in oil producing communities, particularly in Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State owing to their operations in the area.