Oil spill Occurs in Bayelsa
A fresh oil spill has been reported in an oilfield located in Okpoama, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The oilfield is said to be owned by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC.
A resident of Okpoama, Mr. Maxwell Ikoni, told newsmen that the spill was reported by a fisherman on Monday when he discovered leakage on the wellhead that has been in existence for decades.
“The volume of the spill is not much now, but expected to increase in the coming days,” he said.
Mr Ikoni added that “the well has long been dilapidated and the leakage of gas and oil is increasing gradually as we speak.”
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Confirming the incident, Engr Seiyefa Felix Ben-Basuo, President of the Okpoama Kingdom Youth Movement called on the NPDC and relevant government bodies to quickly intervene, noting that residents are already being affected by the spillage.
“You know how dangerous such pollutants are to human lives and the environment and we cannot afford to endure this spill for more days.
“Our people are already suffering from ongoing petroleum exploration and exploitation activities in the area, therefore we will not condone pollution caused by a facility that is not in use for now,” he said.
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Activist calls for JIV
Meanwhile, the Programme Manager, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Comrade Alagoa Morris has called for a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to the site.
According to Alagoa, the visit will comprise of the facility operator, regulators, community representatives and security agencies.
“If the owner of the facility is aware, then the regulators also need to be aware. They should be officially informed by the facility owner or operator. The community should also be on alert to monitor the process,” the activist said.
When contacted, a staff of NPDC who pleaded anonymity, said the company was already aware of the spill and is preparing to mobilize to the location.
Our correspondent could not get comments from the Bayelsa State Director of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) as of press time.
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