Oil spill devastates Bayelsa community

Daily Trust gathered that members of the community have contacted a surveillance contractor to assess the level and consequence of the spill.They lamented that the oil firm has refused to replace the aged pipeline installed in the 1970s after its 30 year life span elapsed.A field report on the incident by Environmental Rights Action/Friends of […]

Daily Trust gathered that members of the community have contacted a surveillance contractor to assess the level and consequence of the spill.
They lamented that the oil firm has refused to replace the aged pipeline installed in the 1970s after its 30 year life span elapsed.
A field report on the incident by Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) indicated that there were five cases of spill incidents in the area from 2009 till date.
The report signed by Mr Alagoa Morris, Head of ERA/FoEN’s field operations in Bayelsa and made available to newsmen stated that the incident has affected fishing and farming activities in the community.
It stated that oil was gushing out from the underground pipeline as well as releasing toxic gas with pungent smell perceived from some 100 metres away from the spilled site.
The report read in part: “Early in the morning of Monday, 17th February 2014 calls were received by the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria [ERA/FoEN] from the community relating information of a very recent oil spill along Agip’s Ogoda/Brass pipeline. After receiving a confirmation of the initial information, field monitors of ERA/FoEN visited the community and were led by community youths to the spill site on Tuesday, 18th February 2014 for independent observation of the spilled site and impacted environment.”
The report also quoted Mr Ngomunadi Apkotu a community resident in the area, saying: “Surely, with the spreading crude oil our environment is worse for it again. Apart from the plants that would be impacted and die later, some animals have started dying already.”

“Some of the animals so affected include snails that are slow in moving and even snakes, the fast crawling creatures. You can see this snake, it is dying because it came into contact with the crude oil. Again, our people have fish ponds around the pipeline area too, these ponds will be impacted too and, that would be a great loss to owners of the fish pond.
“As fisher folks, some of us look forward to this dry season to bail our ponds for survival and now; see crude oil denying us of what we hoped for. I will like Agip to mobilise to site and clean up the spill without delay and also see those whose ponds and other property are impacted by the spill.”
Daily Trust also gathered that officials of Nigerian Agip Oil Company have visited the spill site on 18 February for inspection but were yet to commence the recovery of spilled crude and cleaning.
Meanwhile,ERA/FoEN, an environmental rights focused non-governmental organization has urged the oil firm to constitute a Joint Inspection Visit comprising representatives of the community, Agip and oil industry regulators to investigate the spill.
The NGO equally urged Agip to immediately commence cleaning of the site to forestall further damage to the environment.
Spokesman for Agip Mr. Tajudeen Adigun declined comments on the incident when contacted for a reaction.