From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

The incessant oil spills in Ogboinbiri Community in Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State has been described as a monthly occurrence, with the most recent happening on Nov. 15, 2024.Since the Nigerian Agip Oil Company [NAOC] divested its shares in the Joint Venture totally to Oando, the company’s Ogboinbiri/Tebidaba pipeline within Ogboinbiri community environment has experienced four spill incidents from four different spill points.

According to a statement by Elvira Jordan, Media Manager EDEN said, the first spill occurred on 5 September 2024, and two incidents happened in October 2024. Following the report from the community on November 20, the EDEN team in Yenagoa led by Nimiemi Morris and Alagoa Morris mobilized and visited the affected area on November 21, 2024, and was led to the site of interest by community guides.A native of Ogboinbiri community, Bosin Izonakpo who spoke to the EDEN team, stated that the community has been living in devastation because of the rate of spills in the area. He revealed that the community suffered greatly during the October spill which occurred during the flooding season,spreading the crude all over the environment, destroying aquatic life and damaging their farm lands.“We want to tell everybody, including the government, that the spill is massive. These spills that have taken place within this year have been really massive and devastating. If you can come to Ogboinbiri and see the environment you will see the damage it has done to the environment; including the aquatic environment. When there is flood this entire [pipeline] environment is covered with water. So, it really affected the aquatic environment and also plants within the impacted areas. We used to have a lot of farms. But since this pipeline came and the spills continued, we have not been able to farm.Even if you farm, the yields are not encouraging; very poor harvest. When you come for fishing during the flood, the catch would be poor because crude oil has chased away the fishes from the environment. And this has affected the local economy and livelihood of the indigenous people of the community. So, everything possible should be done to clean up the impacted environment and pay damages.’’Another community member, Esinkumor Richard, who was also one of EDEN guides to the spill area; stated that the excavated area which is about 6 feet deep has been filled with crude oil, which has polluted the environment, making it unfit for life to exist there.He lamented that the spills have affected the sources of livelihood of the Ogboinbiri people. Throwing them into deep hardship, as lands have been lost and even animals are running away from the environment.‘’The whole environment has been polluted. Investigation showed that it is an equipment failure related incident. So, it means that Oando has work to do. They should come and clean up, pay compensation and then; they should try as much as possible to repair their pipelines and other facilities because it cannot continue like this. The people are suffering. The proceeds of the crude oil and gas are feeding the whole Nigeria and then a few individuals who are hosts to oil installations would be suffering all these negative effects. As it stands it has affected our means of livelihood due to the pollution.We are now hungry. Oando should rise up to their responsibilities and do the needful. Otherwise, when the people rise up in anger they should not blame anybody. Nigeria is benefitting but indigenes of Ogboinbiri are suffering from the negative impacts of these incessant oil spills.”According to the field report by Nimiemi Morris and Alagoa Morris, the crude oil spill was caused by equipment failure, which makes three out of the four spills recorded in the area. It was also observed that none of the previous spills that impacted the environment have been cleaned up. Only recovery of spilt crude oil has been done.Speaking on the issue, the Executive Director of EDEN, Chima Williams called on Oando to take immediate and adequate steps to clean up the present spill site and all previously impacted environments, and to replace the aged oil bearing pipes within the environment, to put an end to these monthly oil spills and further environmental degradation.Williams also admonished government regulatory bodies at the Federal and State levels to do the needful; ensuring proper cleanup/remediation and replacement of aged pipelines.He charged the people of Ogboinbiri community to continue to remain vigilant in terms of monitoring their environment, peacefully and legally demanding environmental justice from Oando and the Federal Government.