Delta Communities Protest Oil Spill, Accuse  NNPC, Others Of Negligence

The people of Oporoza, Okpele-Ama/Tebujor, Ikpokpo, Opuedebubo, Opuede, Atanba, Ogbotu, Okerenkokogbene, Gan-Ama Zion, Kala-Ikpokpo, and Maike-Ama in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, have raised concerns over an oil spill allegedly from the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company Limited (NPSC)/NNPC Escravos to Warri crude oil truck-line.

It was gathered that the spill, which occurred on August 10, in Atanba, Gbaramatu Kingdom, has severely damaged land, waterways, aquatic life, fishing equipment, rivers, and drinking water.

In a protest letter by the communities’ solicitor, Eric Omare, obtained by Warri Sentinel which was sent to key officials, including the Group Managing Director of NNPC, the Director General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), and other relevant authorities, the communities expressed frustration over the oil companies’ negligence.

According to the communities, the spill was reported to NPSC/NNPC pipeline surveillance workers on site on August 11, 2024, and requested a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV). However, the NPSC/NNPC allegedly failed to take immediate action and neglected to report the spill to NOSDRA, instead they sent their pipeline contractor to repair the spill site without conducting a JIV.

The letter reads, “Our Clients’ state that contrary to the established internationally acceptable standard in the oil and gas industry, your company has failed/refused and neglected to report the spillage to the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to carry out a Joint Investigation Visit to the site of the spillage to ascertain the cause of the spillage and take necessary steps. 

“It is our Clients’ further brief that instead of carrying out JIV with the relevant stakeholders as required by law, the NPSC/NNPC mobilized its pipeline contractor, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited to the site to commenced repair of the spill point without a JIV.

“Because of the fast-moving river current around the point of the spillage, the spillage has affected several communities and people resident within the communities and other neighbouring communities within the Gbaramatu Kingdom who are suffering from the effects of the spillage up till this moment. 

“We urge the NPSC/NNPC and relevant authorities to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to ascertain the cause of the spillage and take necessary steps. The communities demand urgent clean-up and remediation, provision of relief materials, assessment of damage, and fair compensation.”

“The spillage has caused colossal damages to our lands, waterways, fishing materials, drinking water, and aquatic lives. We demand a Joint Investigation Visit comprising officials of NOSDRA, NPSC/NNPC, and affected community representatives. The NPSC/NNPC should provide relief materials to the people of the affected communities and assess the extent of damage for fair compensation”.