Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) has responded to numerous allegations from residents of host communities on environmental pollution.
NatureNews recalls that last year, owners of Umu-EzeAkpor land in Mgbede Community, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State called for the remediation of their farmland which has been destroyed by the activities of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company, (NAOC).
They complained that chemical wastes dumped in by Nigeria Agip Oil Company, NAOC, is threatening the health and agricultural lives of the people.
The call was made as a result of the silence by the oil giant over the development despite moves from the community and the Rivers State Ministry of Environment.
Speaking for the family, Pastor Evaristus Nicholas said the development started over 30 years ago and that the wastes cover over 28 plots of land belong to the Umu-EzeAkpor family.
Nicholas, who is the leader of Egbema Voice of Freedom, EVF, said efforts have been made to reach Agip to see how to meet with the concerned community members to clean up the farm land so it be put in its original use, but regretted that it has remained futile.
He said that the wastes pose health risks to the people of the area, adding that the people can no longer use their land for agricultural purpose.
Similarly, in a recent development last week, Nicholas petitioned the Italian government over alleged threats to life as a result of activities of NAOC in the area.
In his petition, filed through the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, claimed that Agip oversees over 10 oil wells in Mgbede Oilfield without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which blocked water channels in his community from the natural watercourse, resulting in all-year flooding in the area.
But in a recent statement, NAOC said its operational activities do not pose any threat to life in its host community.
The statement said: “NOAC prohibits and undertakes to prevent any form of retaliation and does not tolerate threats, or participate in intimidation, or attacks in any form, including interested parties in relation to its operations.”
The Italian oil giant noted it has always complied with these principles, and, therefore, denied having threatened the petitioner or anyone.
Eni/NAOC also confirmed completing works, which are agreed with it through mediation of the conciliator appointed by the National Contact Point (NCP) for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines.
NAOC statement added: “These works consist of drainage channels (culvert) under the road for outflow of water from one side to the other.
“The completeness and effectiveness of the completed works have been certified by a third-party consultant (Chattel Associated Nigeria Ltd), which has recommended some minimal additional improvement actions with respect to the work carried out, and which will be implemented shortly.
“Eni participates, in good faith, in judicial or extra-judicial procedures that underlie mechanisms applicable in relations with each stakeholder. This was the case for the proceeding at the NCP in question. Eni, despite having sufficiently demonstrated that activities of the subsidiary, NAOC, do not have aggravating impact on flooding of the area, which is regularly subject to natural flooding, like the entire Niger Delta region.”