From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives has charged companies with facilities along the coastal area to stop leakages from their Facilities at Beinghentoru River affecting Foropah, Ekeni and Ezetu Kingdoms and other communities in Southern Ijaw in Bayelsa State.
The House also mandated its Committee on Petroleum (Upstream) to liase with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies ( MDAs) to undertake an extensive probe into the immediate and remote causes of the spillage.
This, according to the parliament,, is to ascertain which company’s facility is responsible for the spill, as well as remediation put in place to contain the spillage and prevent future occurrence. The committee was also mandated to assess the extent of devastation and impact on the coastal communities in Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency.
Similarly, the Green chamber urged the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), National Oil Pollution Management Agency (NOPMA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Federal Ministry of Environment to pay assessment visits to the area . This is enable them assess the level of environmental damage and recommend appropriate remedial measures.
This was sequel to a motion by the member representing Southern Ijaw, Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State, Rodney Ambaiowei, on the urgent need to contain oil spillage from offshore facilities around Southern Ijaw coastal communities.
Ambaiowei, in his motion informed the House that ” on the 3rd of January, 2024, the people of Foropah, Ekeni and Ezetu Kingdoms woke up to a devastating Oil Spillages from the Atlantic which has destroyed their only source of livelihood, which is fishing and farming.”
According to him, “the volume of the damage recorded since 3rd of January 2024 and till date, if not quickly arrested, this leakage will lead to the pollution of the waters and their contents in the surrounding areas.”
He stated this would lead to ” a near-annihilation of aquatic lives which randomly show up at the coastal shores of the Middleton communities and Southern Ijaw coastal communities.”
The lawmaker stated that it is worrisome that despite the prompt on the incident, the owners of the facilities, as well as NOSDRA have been “lethargic” in their response to contain the spillage. He expressed concern that the slow response might lead to unrest among youths in the affected communities.