By Obiabin Onukwugha
A fresh oil spill has been reported in Oshika community in Ahoada West local government area of Rivers State, South-South Nigeria.
The spill is coming less than two weeks after another spill was reported at Ikats community, Ahoada East local government area.
The spill, which was reported by the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), is from a pipeline right of way operated by Renaissance Africa Energy Company Ltd, the new operator of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) assets.
According to the report signed by the Executive Director of YEAC-NIGERIA, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene, the spill, which was noticed in the early hours of Monday May 19, is suspected to be as a result of third party interference.
The report made available to NatureNews in Port Harcourt read: “The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) has received and confirmed reports of a fresh crude oil spill in Oshika community in Ahoada West local government area of Rivers State.
“According to the Advocacy Centre’s youth volunteer network, affiliated with the One Million Youth Volunteers Network of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters in the Niger Delta and the Crude Oil Spill Alert System (COSAS), the spillage was noticed in the early hours of Monday, May 19, in the community on a pipeline right of way operated by Renaissance Africa Energy Company Ltd, the new operator of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of Nigeria Ltd’s divested facilities.
“The volunteers reported the latest crude oil spill to the Advocacy Centre’s Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, alleging that the spillage is caused by third-party interference, pending confirmation by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) through a comprehensive joint investigation team’s visit to the spill site in Oshika community.”
The Advocacy Centre therefore called on NOSDRA to carry out a timely joint investigation visit to the site and invoke relevant sections of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021, to hold those responsible accountable and ensure the operator clamps the spill point to mitigate the impact of the crude oil spill on the flora and fauna in the affected area.
