The communities of Oporoza, Okpele-Ama/Tebujor, Ikpokpo, Opuedebubo, Opuede, Atanba, Ogbotu, Okerenkokogbene, Gan-Ama Zion, Kala-Ikpokpo, and Maike-Ama in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, have raised alarms over a significant oil spillage allegedly originating from the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company Limited (NPSC)/NNPC Escravos to Warri crude oil truckline.
According to a statement sent to GbaramatuVoice, the spillage occurred on August 10, 2024, at Atanba in Gbaramatu Kingdom and has since caused extensive damage to the land, waterways, aquatic life, fishing materials, and sources of drinking water in the affected communities.
In a protest letter issued by the communities’ solicitor, Eric Omare, and obtained by GbaramatuVoice, the people expressed their dissatisfaction with the oil companies’ response to the crisis. The letter, addressed to the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Director General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), and other relevant authorities, outlined the communities’ grievances.
The communities reported the spillage to the NPSC/NNPC pipeline surveillance workers stationed at Ubafan near Escravos on August 11, 2024, and requested a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV). However, they claim that rather than taking prompt action, NPSC/NNPC neglected the situation.
The communities further alleged that the NPSC/NNPC failed to report the incident to NOSDRA, instead opting to mobilize its pipeline contractor to repair the spill point without conducting a JIV, in violation of established protocols in the oil and gas industry.
The letter states: “Our Clients’ state that contrary to the established internationally acceptable standard in the oil and gas industry, your company has failed/refused and neglected to report the spillage to the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to carry out a Joint Investigation Visit to the site of the spillage to ascertain the cause of the spillage and take necessary steps.
“It is our Clients’ further brief that instead of carrying out JIV with the relevant stakeholders as required by law, the NPSC/NNPC mobilised its pipeline contractor, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited to the site to commence repair of the spill point without a JIV.”
The communities emphasized that the spillage, exacerbated by the fast-moving river currents, has continued to affect numerous people and neighboring communities within Gbaramatu Kingdom. They are urging NPSC/NNPC and relevant authorities to conduct a proper JIV to ascertain the cause of the spillage and to provide urgent clean-up, relief materials, damage assessment, and fair compensation.
“The spillage has caused colossal damages to our lands, waterways, fishing materials, drinking water, and aquatic lives. We demand a Joint Investigation Visit comprising officials of NOSDRA, NPSC/NNPC, and affected community representatives. The NPSC/NNPC should provide relief materials to the people of the affected communities and assess the extent of damage for fair compensation,” the letter concludes.
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