Follow Us on Google
From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Panic has gripped several fishing communities in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State following an oil spill allegedly linked to crude loading operations at the Nembe Creek oilfield.
The Nembe Creek oilfield, located within Oil Mining Lease 29 (OML 29), is operated by Nembe Exploration & Production Limited, formerly Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Limited.
A field report by Environmental Conservation Agriculture and Rural Development (ECARD) said crude oil was observed along the creek and mangrove banks.
ECARD Lead Field Monitor, Chief Alagoa Morris, said the pungent smell of crude oil became noticeable about two kilometres from Nembe Creek during the organisation’s visit.
According to ECARD, the spill had spread to several fishing settlements, with residents reporting losses in fishing activities and damage to fishing equipment.
The paramount ruler of Nembe Creek communities, HRH Agent Waya, said the incident had further worsened the hardship faced by residents.
Waya said the community reported the spill to naval personnel after Aiteo officials allegedly failed to respond immediately to their concerns.
He said women from the affected communities later protested at the Aiteo facility, demanding relief materials, assessment of damages and compensation.
According to him, the affected communities gave the company three days to provide relief materials, saying residents could no longer engage in fishing.
Waya said the spill occurred while crude oil was being loaded into a barge which subsequently tilted and discharged crude into the river.
He listed Mile 1, Mile 2, Mile 3, Roka, Williamkiri, Atonbarakiri, Korukiri and Madam Wanwakiri among the affected communities.
Other News
Others, he said, included Ewelesuo, Kpongbokiri, Victorkiri, Abuja 1, 2 and 3, Pipeline 1, 2, 3 and 4, Kalakububogo and Etikiri.
The women leader, Mrs Ebi Otokolo, said the pollution had rendered the river waters unusable for fishing, domestic activities and other livelihood purposes.
She said residents had been forced to remain indoors because of the crude oil odour, while fishermen could no longer access their means of livelihood.
A community woman, Mrs Love Mark, said some fishing nets contaminated by crude oil had become unusable.
Mark said individual fishing nets cost between N150,000 and N170,000, adding that affected residents urgently needed assistance from the operator.
Also, former youth president of neighbouring Ewelesuo community, Mr Daukoru Benjaka, called for the inclusion of the community and its fishing camps in the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV).
Benjaka said the spill had affected fish catches and other aquatic resources, including periwinkles, while threatening the survival of fishing communities.
ECARD said its observations showed substantial crude oil on the water and along mangrove roots, despite reports by residents that tidal movement had thinned the pollution.
The organisation warned that rising tides could carry crude oil deeper into the mangrove ecosystem, further affecting aquatic organisms such as crabs, oysters and periwinkles.
ECARD said information from the Bayelsa Ministry of Environment and Nembe Oil and Gas Committee indicated that the JIV had identified operational failure as the cause of the spill.
However, it said the volume of crude spilled and the extent of the affected area remained inconclusive as of August 26.
The organisation added that the latest incident was part of a history of oil spills associated with operations in OML 29.
