Nembe—A group, the Nembe Se Congress, has called on relevant stakeholders to prevail on the Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company Limited to immediately contain the oil spill at OML 29, well 1, located at Santa Barbara River, in Nembe Local government Area of Bayelsa State.
The group made this known on Monday in a statement by its president, Prof. Godwin Egein, at the NUJ Press Center, Yenagoa.
The statement called on the federal government to immediately ensure the Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) to commence and make the outcome public.
The group lamented that Opu-Nembe Kingdom and other neighbouring communities have been affected by the spill, thereby compelling them to now rely on relief materials in the immediate short term.
The group, comprised of indigenes of Brass and Nembe Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State, also advised people of the affected settlements and communities to relocate to safer areas to avoid health hazards and other resultant effects of the ongoing spill.
The statement reads in part:
“Cognizant of the long-term effects of this disaster, an independent investigation must be conducted to unravel all the issues behind the disaster with recommendations against future occurrence.
“Nembe Se Congress hereby publicly reaffirm our commitment to also constitute a body of experts to join in the investigative efforts, in order to get to the root of the matter.
“There must be an urgent but comprehensive remediation program for the ecosystem to restore the bio-diversity of the affected areas.
“While acknowledging the relief materials provided so far by Aiteo, we still call for a more comprehensive health care arrangement and the continuous monitoring of the conditions of the affected people.
“May we use this medium to advise all interested parties in this matter to avoid playing politics with the lives of our people and our environment, all of which are currently under serious threats.
“Congress hereby call on the Bayelsa State Government to liaise with the Federal Government to officially designate the impacted and affected areas in Nembe Se as “Major Disaster Area.”
The group, however, commended the
Amayanabo of Opu-Nembe, HRM King (Dr) Biobelemoye Josiah, Council of Chiefs and the entire people of Opu-Nembe Kingdom for their patience and understanding thus far.
