Bayelsa Community Grapples With Agip Pipeline Oil Spillage

Indigenes of the Olugboboro community in the Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State have cried out over a massive crude oil leak from the pipeline operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

According to the Olugboboro indigenes, the spillage occurred about two months ago along the Ogboinbiri/Tebitada pipeline when the pipeline ruptured, which has been attributed to equipment failure.

In a letter to the Bayelsa State government made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday, the leaders of the Olugboboro community, Chief Azeke Matthew Akpowari, Chief Ebimobowei Kenbo Ipkesiware and assistant secretary general, Amos Oweifighe, called for urgent intervention to stop the oil spill.

They expressed their displeasure over Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) inaction to the oil spillage in a pipeline operated by the company at Olugboboro community in the Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State.

“The spillage occurred about two months ago along the Ogboinbiri/Tebitada pipeline when the pipeline ruptured due to equipment failure. As a result, crude oil has been gushing out from the pipeline for about two months, devastating a large swath 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 spilt.

“It would be pertinent to note that Biedinobou, where the equipment failure occurred, is a major farming and fishing hub of the community. Hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude oil have been spilt since sometime in May this year when the pipeline ruptured, turning farmlands, lakes and ponds into rivers of crude oil.

“Consequently, collateral damage has been done to farms, economic trees, ponds and lakes, which are the mainstay of the people in the Biedinobou forest for the past two months since the pipeline began to seep crude oil into the environment.

We are in a rainy season, and it is aiding the fast spread of the spill to distant areas and rivers.

“Agip has been informed of the ugly incident; however, to date, it has not attempted to contain the spillage from further polluting and degrading the environment.

“We cannot comprehend why Agip has allowed the spill to continue to destroy the environment, given the negative implications of the pollution on people’s health, livelihood, animals, aquatic life and the general environment.

“The refusal of Agip to contain the spill has shown its crass disregard for the plight of the people and the environment. In light of the above, we urge you to wade into the matter, and we demand the following;

“Agip should mobilise at the site immediately to contain the spill, clean up, and rehabilitate the environment. Send relief materials and pay adequate compensation to the community to alleviate their suffering,” they stated.