By Obiabin Onukwugha
The Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has called on the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), to immediately clamp its leaking condensate pipeline located at Ekuraba Creek, Otuasega community in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State.
A statement signed by ERA/FoEN Communications Officer, Elvira Jordan, made available to NatureNews at the weekend, said the call became necessary after a field visit by a team led by the Program Manager and Head of the Niger Delta Resource Center, ERA/FoEN, Comrade Alagoa Morris, to the affected pipeline.
The statement indicated that the Team’s visit was a follow up to a distress call from a video posted on social media by an indigene of the community, showing a high level of pollution in the Ekuraba creek.
“Otuasega hosts Shell’s Kolocreek Logistic Base, Oil Wells where Shell extracts Crude oil/gas daily, Shell’s Kolocreek Tie-In Manifold and pipelines.
“Like other host communities of the Niger Delta, Otuasega has experienced some of the negative consequences associated with oil industry such as induced pollution,” the statement read in part.
Naturenews gathered that one of the fishermen in the Ekuraba fishing camp, Akpobolokeme Odofori who led the community leaders and ERA/FoEN from the spill point downstream, where the spill had spread, lamented the level of pollution the spill had caused along the creek and its effect on fishing activities in the area.
‘’Fishing is my occupation and I reside at the Ekuraba fishing camp. For about a week now we are not catching fish as we used to, due to this incident. This morning some persons came are said they want to see where the Kerosene was bubbling and the environment. That was how I volunteered to guide them to this area where much of the spilled substance is gathered. The substance looks like Kerosene, diesel and petrol. Due to this pollution we have ceased using our fishing nets on the creek. There are no fishes again as before. Right now the bubbling has stopped, maybe Shell has shut down the line’’, Odofori said.
Another resident of Otuasega community, Igbeta James Brown, who spoke with the environmental team explained that they were informed of the spill by the fishermen residing within the Creek a week ago. But regretted that Shell was yet to take any formal action despite being informed by the community.
Also, Beauty Inie Keghe, a non-native but residing at the Ekuraba fishing camp, lamented that the spill has brought untold hardship and ailments to their families.
“We are suffering since the spill happened in our camp. The water has gone bad. Children are coughing and experiencing catarrh. The water has been contaminated, fishes are now scarce in the water; we are experiencing hunger. If all the fish in the water are dead, what are we going eat or do? We are suffering and facing hunger. Our husbands are also getting sick. This is the situation in our (fishing) camp now, “ she stated.
On his part, the CDC Chairman of Otuasega community, Nyamono Ezuzu Sydney lamented the negative impact of incessant oil spills to the people and their environment.
“Every end of year our people come here for our fishing festival. And because of this spill, I know it will affect the festival this year. Some of the fishes are already dying and I know most of them will migrate to other places so I know that it will affect us during the dry season. So it will affect the economic activity of our people’’.
The CDC Chairman faulted Shell for what he described as nonchalant attitude towards oil spill issues, calling on the government to intervene.
“Even when the spill started, we tried to reach out to some of them. But up till now they have not come. So we want government to use their strength, because if we go to Shell, government would say we are taking laws into our hands.
He also called on Shell to be proactive in its reactions to spills and leakages, adding that they should know it is their responsibility to detects and handle spills.
Reacting, the Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, Chima William called on Shell to immediately mobilize to Ekuruba Creek site for JIV, with the relevant stakeholders, to ascertain cause of leak or rupture.
He further called on the relevant regulatory bodies, especially NOSDRA to ensure that Shell pays the stipulated fine for failing to notify the body about the spill within the time frame allowed. He also demanded that the impacted environment be immediately cleaned up.