Environmentalists demand prompt response to Bayelsa community oil spill

The Environmental Defenders Network, an environmental rights group, has called on regulatory agencies and oil companies to respond promptly when oil spills occur to forestall the spread and destruction of the environment.

The EDEN call is coming as the Ogboinbiri community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State recorded the first oil spill on the 14-inch Ogboinbiri/Tebidaba pipeline since Oando completed a $783m takeover of the assets of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company.

According to the Deputy Executive Director of EDEN, Alagoa Morris, the spill which occurred on Friday, September 5, has affected swamps, streams and farmlands, and disrupted fishing activities in the area with the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency and Oando Plc yet to move to avert a major environmental disaster.

Speaking on the incident on Tuesday, a resident, Maxwel Oseke, said: ‘’This spill happened on September 5, 2024. But as I said earlier, the previous one that I was part of the assessment team, I will not be specific with dates, but if I should go back to my pictures and whatever in my gadget, I will be able to come up with the date as I have pictures and videos that I posted on my Facebook page.

“It is not to my notice that previous spill-impacted sites were cleaned up. If a cleanup was done, it would have shown in the environment. If there was a proper cleanup, you are here, I think your cameras can capture some of the charred trees from the previous spill-impacted site that was set ablaze. So, there was no proper cleanup.

“This current spill is because of equipment failure; that I can assure you. There has been a Joint Investigation Visit and, they won’t deny what I just said.”

Oseke said due to the rains and delay in cleanup, the spill had spread beyond the right of way of the pipeline stating, “We know the government is part of the oil business but human lives and property are supposed to be protected. So, we call on the relevant authorities to take centre stage.”

The Paramount Ruler, Okosughe Benson Eseimokumo, told our correspondent that the Ogboinbiri environment had been experiencing consistent spill cases and is continuing, noting that the recent one was reported to him on September 5 and a JIV was done.

He said, “It is just sad that this incident is happening now that we are in the rainy season.

“From my investigations, the spill has spread more than 200 metres away from the Oando pipeline Right of Way. And it is still extending, which means that immediately there is rainfall, all the ponds, lakes and rivulets will be polluted. Those are the areas we get the prawn, fish and others from.”

The environmental group said its call for a prompt response was based on the provisions of Article 24 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights pointing out that “The pursuit of profit cannot be allowed to displace environmental human rights.”

The demands said, “Regulatory bodies should always consider weather and environmental conditions; ensuring prompt action by polluters by tight follow-ups on incidents to prevent greater environmental damage.

“Oando should have, as a policy, prompt and practical oil spill response and containment contingency action. This should be the case, no matter the cause oil spills.

“Oando should immediately mobilise to the impacted environment and stop, prevent further spread of crude oil in the swamp.  This should be followed up with immediate proper cleanup as a chemical reaction between crude oil and water has a far-reaching negative impact on marine ecosystems; whether crude oil is seen or not is immaterial.

It further said the Ogboinbiri community should remain vigilant and continue to monitor their environment and the spread of crude oil while calling for immediate containment and cleanup knowing that a Post Impact Assessment would take care of total impacted area.