A fresh oil spill has erupted from the Ogboinbiri-Tebidaba pipeline in Southern-Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The incident which was first noticed on Friday, October 4 2024, has been discharging crude into rivulets and forests around the Apoi Creek.
Natives of the impacted communities such as Keme-Ebiama, Ogboinbiri and others say their water sources, livelihood structure, farmlands, and environment have been polluted.
Just about a month ago, specifically on September 5, a spill occurred at the Ogboinbiri-Tebidaba pipeline confirmed to be caused by equipment failure, where a ruptured pipeline owned by Oando which was recently acquired from Nigeria Agip Oil Company had leaked hundreds of barrels of crude oil into Apoi Creek, swamps and farmlands around the vicinity.
Last Friday, a fresh spill was reported with crude bubbling out of the pipeline buried under the water connecting the Ogiori stream flowing to the Apoi Creek.
The Spill which has dispersed for about a week now due to rising flood waters has impacted adversely on the Apoi Creek and swathes of marshland and farmlands of Apoi clan in Southern Ijaw with communities such as Keme-Ebiama, Kokologbeni, Gbaraun, Apoi and as far as Ukubie.
Speaking with our reporter in Southern-Ijaw LGA, Chief Newstyle Ogiori, Chairman, Council of Chiefs of Keme-Ebiama, said with the pollution of the water bodies in the area, their source of water and other means of livelihood had been affected.
Two natives, Mr. Timi Koripamo, and Mrs. Gradeone Nikki who spoke in Izon language, asserted that they have always been on the receiving end of crude oil exploitation and exploration activities, while calling for proper remediation, clean up and compensation.
Paramount ruler of Ogboinbiri, Chief Okosughe Eseimokumo who noted that the previous oil spill has not been properly cleaned up, and relief materials provided for the affected communities. He warned that with the latest spill and pollution of the environment, there would be a challenge to food security in the area.
The Deputy Executive Director of the Environmental Defenders Network, Chief Alagoa Morris, who visited the spill site for on the spot assessment called on Oando as well as other multinationals to put an end to the incessant oil spills by replacing ageing pipeline and other infrastructure.
Ijaw Heritage Television International recalled that some days ago, the House of Representatives House Committee on Environment, issued a 7-day ultimatum to Oando and AITEO Chief Executives to appear before it in connection to the worsening environmental degradation in oil producing communities, particularly in Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State due to their operations in the area.
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Also See: RECRUITMENT AT BAYELSA STATE POLYTECHNIC, ALEIBIRI, EKEREMOR LGA, BAYELSA STATE.