By Obiabin Onukwugha
A civil society organisation, Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) has called for immediate cleanup of Ebubu community in Eleme local government area of Rivers State, which recently suffered serious crude oil pollution.
YEAC-Nigeria also demanded for payment of adequate compensation to the people, noting the massive crude oil spills from the facility operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd. (SPDC) has impacted on the livelihood of the people in the community.
A statement signed by the Executive Director of YEAC-NIGERIA, Fyneface Dumnamene, said “Monday, October 21, 2024, a spill occurred on Shell’s pipeline rights of way in Ejamah, Ebubu Community, directly opposite the Naval Headquarters, while SPDC was conducting maintenance activities. The excavator operator, while excavating the soil to expose the pipeline for maintenance, mistakenly punctured one of the underground pipes, causing a massive oil spill.”
He said environment defenders and community urged the organisation to use its Crude Oil Spill Alert System (COSAS) to alert the authorities and the general public to come to their aid by holding Shell accountable for the incident that has violated their environmental rights among others.
Eyewitnesses disclosed that when the incident occurred, Shell promptly instructed the excavator to dig a pit, approximately twelve by twelve feet in size and depth, to contain the leaking crude and prevent its spread around the area.
“However, the crude quickly overflowed the pit, prompting the excavator to excavate a second pit that was also overflowing with crude. They then ordered the shutdown of the line to potentially halt the spill, which persisted until the following day due to the high pressure of the transported crude”.
The community residents also stated that in order to enhance the spill damage control process and curb the spread of crude oil into the environment, the Shell dispatched about four trucks to the site to extract and remove the crude oil, thereby reducing the overflow into the environment.
“The community wants the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to assist with a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to the site.
“They also want the government to hold SPDC responsible for the spill by using the right parts of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021. They demand immediate environmental cleanup and repair, as well as adequate compensation from SPDC for the environmental and economic damages inflicted in the affected area”, the statement added.
