Nembe—There has been a leakage of hydrocarbon from an oil well in OML 29 since last week Tuesday.
The facility, which is said to be operated by Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company Limited, is located at a place called Juju Point along River Santa Barbara in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Mangrovepen.ng could not ascertain whether the incident was due to equipment failure or vandalism.
Meanwhile, local and international environmentalists have called on government to prevail on the company to take responsibility.
In a chat with mangrovepen.ng, environmental rights activist, Alagoa Morris, stated that the spill has greatly affected the ecosystem and aquatic lives in the environment.
Morris, who is also the Bayelsa state coordinator of the Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), stated that “such incidents that have devastated our marine ecosystem which our majorly fishing communities depend on for livelihood.
“From what is seen, I am convinced aquatic lives, including periwinkle, crabs, oysters highly rich in protein and the mangrove would be seriously affected.
“So, surely flora and fauna would be impacted; including nesting birds and human health; as the wind would carry far.
“It is interesting to see that some booming effort was made, but from the video clip, it is clear that the boom isn’t effective; as crude oil is observed spreading in the creek.
“Besides, the spraying from the wellhead is to opposite directions and away from the boomed area.
It is very possible that crude oil presence in the environment in the direction of both spraying points would equally be heavy, especially if it has continued with this pressure for over a week,” he said.
While urging oil companies to periodically carry out maintenance and integrity checks on their facilities, Morris alleged that workers and contractors of some oil companies sponsor third-party spills.
In his words, “oil companies need to do an integrity check on their facilities as a routine exercise to identify and replace equipment due for replacement.
“Again, competence should be emphasized in engaging staff, to prevent operational failure incidents.
“Yes, oil company staff may be working and when an uncontrollable incident occurs; they might run away from the site and later claim it was caused by a third party.
“Also, even though some unscrupulous community folks may be involved in third party spills, it is becoming increasingly clear that some oil company workers and contractors are equally sponsoring third party oil spills.
“With all the military presence, these oil spills destroying our environment, livelihood and health have continued. It would be nice if community folks are involved in securing the oil facilities against third-party spills.”
The environmental rights activist also called on governors in the Niger Delta to “establish a world standard laboratory to assist victims of oil industry induced pollution to easily confirm the state of their environment.”
Morris also stated that the ongoing United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recommended cleanup in Ogoni should be extended to Bayelsa state and other Niger Delta states that are suffering from oil spills.
Similarly, a conservationist and youth affairs coordinator of the Akassa Development Foundation (ADF), Raynus Ebiegberi said that the land and marine ecosystems of the state are currently in their trying times.
“It’s time for both assigned authorities to act now! All oil companies involved in this heavy pollution and contamination of the innocent environment should be sanctioned and made accountable for all the actions.
“More stringently, all oil operations in the Niger Delta be stopped until more drastic bioremediation/clean-ups are put in place,” he advised.
Raynus who called for the rehabilitation and compensation of victims of oil spills in the state declared the spill at OML 29 as an ecological and social crime.
“Those directly affected and others impacted should be given instant attention in terms of rehabilitation, relocation, health, etc, and pay due compensation for the damage,” he said.
Meanwhile, Corner House and Re Commons, two leading global Nongovernmental Organisations (NGOs) focusing on human rights, the environment, and development, have also expressed their displeasure over the oil spill.
In a joint solidarity message sent to the affected communities in Opu Nembe, Nicholas Hildyard,
founder of Corner House, and Antonio Tricarico of the Re Commons, demanded an immediate cleanup and compensation.
According to them, “The well fire and spill at OML 29 is an ecological and social crime that cannot go unpunished.
“We send our solidarity to the communities that are affected. We stand with you in demanding an immediate clean-up and compensation.”
All efforts to reach Aiteo on the incident proved abortive as phone calls and messages put across to two senior staff of the company and the special adviser to the state governor on oil and gas were unreturned.
However, it was gathered that a team from the company and representative of the Bayelsa State Government had earlier visited the scene.
