By Yemi Olakitan
Fishermen and residents in the Bayelsa State town of Koluama 2 have expressed displeasure at the deployment of toxic dispersants to stop an ongoing oil leak at a Conoil field.
The fishing community along the Atlantic coast claims that the harmful chemicals have wiped off fish species, altered aquatic biology, and put their livelihood in danger. In order to clean up large oil spills, dispersants are chemicals that are sprayed under regulatory approval and supervision in deep offshore oilfields. The chemical posed a risk to locals, according to Mr. Patrick Ileberi, Chairman of Koluama 2 Community Development Committee (CDC), on January 18, 2023. “Due to ongoing mop-up operations using this toxic chemical, our fishermen are unable to embark on their regular trips, and the oil workers have sent gunboats to keep us at bay.
” The security vessels have blocked off the area, making it impossible for those who want to enter deep sea fishing to do so. Additionally, our fishermen are unable to cross,” he said.
He described how the dispersant caused respiratory problems and choking in the neighbourhood by polluting the air.
Ileberi said the local authorities had informed the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency’s Yenagoa headquarters about the oil spill (NOSDRA).
The chairman added that the absence of gas flare flames at the oil field was caused by oil employees at the plant reducing pressure on the production pipelines.
Ileberi pleaded with the various levels of government to assist the locals by sending supplies and medical missions to Koluama 2.
He regretted that oil company managers had been careless about the harmful effects of the toxins on locals’ health.
On Monday, NOSDRA representatives went to the spill site to start their investigation into the event that occurred a week earlier.
When reached, Mr Idris Musa, Director-General of NOSDRA, stated that the organisation had not given the go-ahead for the use of dispersants in the region.
The oil company’s media relations manager, Mr. Abiodun Azeez, declined to comment on the situation.
