Nembe—Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has described the oil spillage in OML 29, well 1 in Opu Nembe, Nembe Local Government Area as the worst he had seen upon paying a visit to the site on Wednesday.
Governor Diri said the continuous spillage has further endangered the lives of the people of Nembe, Bayelsa, and indeed the Niger Delta.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, the governor expressed shock over the quantity of crude that has been spilled into the environment.
He called on the Federal Government and operators of the oil field to immediately take action to stop it.
According to him, the prolonged oil spill into the water and air had an immediate and long-term effect on the health of the inhabitants.
Governor Diri assured the people that appropriate measures would be taken to seek redress, noting that the quest by oil firms to make money would not be at the expense of the lives of the people.
He expressed empathy with the Nembe people, whom he said have lost their means of livelihood due to the spill while appreciating them for their peaceful disposition.
According to Governor Diri: “Today happens to be a very dark day for me. What we have seen, I believe, is worse than what happened in the Gulf of Mexico. In all my life, I have not seen such a magnitude of oil spillage.
“Our people are endangered. Our people’s source of livelihood is endangered. I empathize and sympathize with the people of Nembe on behalf of the government and the people of Bayelsa State.
“I like to give you hope that we will stand shoulder to shoulder with you. Your government will activate every constitutional means to arrest and redress this magnitude of the oil spill.
“I, therefore, call on the Federal Government, the operators of the oil field, NNPC and AITEO to immediately look for superior technical know-how to contain and stop the spread of the oil.
“For Bayelsa, the only thing we know how to do best is fishing. Today, our fishing route is endangered. I equally call on the Federal Government to immediately react and ensure that our fishing route is safe.”
Diri also decried the exclusion of indigenous host communities in the running of the oil industry, saying that if indigenes were part of the operations of the oil field, they would have looked for ways to address the problem.
The governor then directed the State Emergency Management Agency and Ministry of Health to immediately provide relief materials and healthcare services to the people by way of cushioning the effect of the people’s suffering.
Speaking earlier, the chairman of Nembe Local Government Area, Hon. West Alalibo, and member representing Nembe Constituency 2 in the State House of Assembly, Edward Brigidi, commended the governor for embarking on a visit to the site.
They noted that the spill has caused water and environmental pollution, which is hazardous to the health of the people.
Also speaking, the chairman of Nembe Council of Chiefs, Chief Ekpeleyai Oruwari, pleaded with the government and the operators of the oil well to contain the oil from spilling into the environment.
Chief Oruwari also stated that the spill has polluted their environment leading to damage to their source of water and means of livelihood, adding that the people’s lives are in danger due to the polluted air.
He appealed for the provision of relief materials to ameliorate their plight.
The governor was accompanied by lawmakers, including the member representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr. Fred Agbedi, Speaker of the Bayelsa House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, and top government functionaries on the visit.
