Emmanuel Ochayi
Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Nigeria has confirmed an oil spill from its flow station in Peremabiri community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Friday October 13.
The oil leak has wreaked havoc on farmlands, including those with economic trees, and the marine environment, leaving the community members devastated.
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A spokesperson for SPDC, Michael Adande, said: “A Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) is currently underway to determine the cause and extent of the oil discharged into Peremabiri’s land and marine environment.” The JIV, which is a statutory probe, involves representatives from the operator, host community, and regulatory agencies to generate a report detailing the cause and extent of pollution after every spill.
Furthermore, a government-led Joint Investigation Team is conducting a visit to the incident site to assess the situation. According to Alagoa Morris, the Programme Manager of Environmental Right Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, the oil spill has had a devastating impact on the ecosystem, particularly affecting farming and fishing settlements along the banks of River Nun.
Morris, who also serves as the Technical Adviser to the Bayelsa Governor on Environment, praised the community’s peaceful response but urged regulatory agencies to ensure that SPDC initiates the necessary cleanup process promptly to prevent economic and health challenges for the people of Peremabiri.
Local residents have expressed their distress, with impacted farmer Mrs. Yenimi Timipre reporting that her fishing gear had been stained by crude oil, rendering it useless. Mrs. Favour Morgan, the Deputy Woman Leader of Peremabiri, lamented the destruction of fishing nets, traps, crops, and the pollution of the aquatic environment. She called for immediate relief and assistance to mitigate the dire impact of the oil spill on the community’s livelihoods.
The Peremabiri community demands swift action and assistance from Shell to address the environmental and economic devastation caused by the oil spill.
Emmanuel Ochayi is a journalist. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, School of first choice and the nations pride. Emmanuel is keen on exploring writing angles in different areas, including Business, climate change, politics, Education, and others.
