…Call on FG, DTSG to intervene

…many are sick, others have lost their means of livelihood

By Ebi Perekeme
                                                   
One week after the reported oil spillage in Polobubo and Opuama communities, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta state, the victims of the devastating spillage have again cried out to President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for help over the effects of the March 14, 2021 incident at their various communities.
 
This clarion call was contained in a statement dated Monday, March 22 and signed by the President of the Polobubo Bloc of Communities,  Mr. Paul Toruwei.

ALSO READ: Polobubo/Opuama Oil Spillage: How Delta State Govt Failed The People (EDITORIAL)
 
While decrying the nonchalant attitude of the management of the NPDC/ELCREST, owners of the OML 40 facility where the spillage occurred and that of the Delta and Federal governments, Paul Toruwei,  lamented that one week after the spillage, there is no relief in the form of food, drugs, clean-up of the environment or whatsoever from any of these quarters.
 
According to him; “The people are left to their fate as the oil company and government don’t care about them and are only interested in how they would start oil exploration from the facility without concern for the immediate needs of the community.  
 
Also, the statement noted, “the NPDC/ELCREST has been sending their officials to the site of the spillage to work without consulting, or approval of the affected communities. Even the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) that was done was controversial as parties are yet to agree on the cause of the spillage.
 
The community leader therefore, called on President Buhari and the Honourable of Petroleum,  State, Chief Timipre Slyva to prevail on NPDC to do the needful by providing relief materials to the affected communities to reduce the adverse effects of the spillage.

The NPDC/ELCREST joint venture he added should consider the plight of the people of their host communities who are facing the adverse effect of the spillage from their facility rather than the desperation to start operations.

He submitted that as at the time of writing this press statement, some persons are still sick while the majority of the people have lost their means of livelihood as a result of spillage.