Agip, Bayelsa community at loggerheads over oil spill

From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

The leaders of Olugboboro community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and Eni, parent body of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) are at daggers drawn over the cause of an oil leak.

The leaders of the Olugboboro Community, Chief Azeke Matthew Akpowari, Chief Ebimobowei Kenbo Ipkesiware and Assistant Secretary General, Amos Oweifighe, had in a letter to the state government called for urgent intervention to stop the oil spill.

They claimed that the spill was caused by equipment failure and destroyed a large swathe of farmlands, ponds, economic trees, and lakes in the forest.

“It will be difficult to quantify the damage wrecked on the people’s livelihood and the environment, because of the huge quantities of crude oil spilled.  It would be pertinent to note that Biedinobou where the equipment failure occurred is a major farming and fishing hub of the community. Hundred of thousands of barrels of crude oil have been spilled since sometime in May this year when the pipeline ruptured; thereby turning farmlands, lakes, and ponds into rivers of crude oil,” they claimed.

The community has, therefore, demanded relief materials and adequate compensation to the community to ameliorate the suffering of the people.

While Eni confirmed the oil leak at its Ogboinbiri/Tebitada pipeline, it attributed it to third-party interference.

The oil firm stated that a report of the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) carried out by the company with representatives of authorities and the communities showed that the spill occurred due to the activities of oil thieves in the area.

The multinational oil giant in a statement said it has already deployed booms to contain the spread of the spill.