Address Leakages In Southern Ijaw – HOR To Oil Companies

The ongoing environmental crisis in southern Ijaw of Bayelsa State is set to be resolved, as the House of Representatives has instructed oil companies operating in the region to halt and address oil leakages from their facilities at Beinghentoru River, preventing further damage to Foropah, Ekeni, Ezetu Kingdoms, and nearby communities.

The House also tasked its Committee on Petroleum (Upstream) to collaborate with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government to carry out an extensive investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the spillage.

This is to ascertain which company is responsible for the spill, remediation efforts to contain the spillage and future occurrence as well as impact on coastal Communites of Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency and report their findings for legislative action.

These resolutions followed the Adoption of a motion of urgent public Importance at Plenary in Abuja :titled “Urgent Need to Contain Oil Spillage from Offshore Facilities Around Southern Ijaw Coastal Communities To Forestal Further Environmental Damages Sponsored by the Member representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency, Mr. Rodney Ebikebina Ambaiowei.

In his submission, Mr Ambaiowei noted the strategic importance of Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency, hosting vital oil installations, facilities, and companies involved in Nigeria’s oil exploration, exploitation, and production processes.

“Notably, companies such as FIRST E&P, Connoil, NEPL, SPDC, and NIGDEL UNITED OIL Company, with pipelines and facilities impacting numerous coastal communities, were identified”.

Recognizing existing regulatory frameworks such as the Petroleum Industry Act and the Oil Spill Recovery, Clean-Up, Remediation, and Damage Assessment Regulation of 2011, the Lawmaker stressed the imperative to protect the environment, economic interests, and the health of host communities affected by oil spillages.

He further noted that Petroleum Industry Act and the Oil Spill Recovery, Clean-Up, Remediation and Damage, Assessment Regulation, 2011 as well as the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency set out operational standards and guidelines dealing with Oil spillages to protect the environment, economic interest and health of Host Communities who bear the impact of Oil spillages and production.

The Lawmaker expressed concern at the devastating oil spillage from the Atlantic in Foropah, Ekeni and Ezetu Kingdoms on January 3 this year which destroyed their only source of livelihood, which is fishing and Farming.

According to him, findings reveal that the Oil Spillage is occasioned by the leakages from the facilities operated by the following companies; FIRST E&P, Connoil, NEPL, SPDC and NIGDEL UNITED OIL Company who own Oil installations in and around BEINGHENTORU RIVER.

“The House is disturbed that the referenced oilfield does not only constitute one of the largest deep water operations in Nigeria, it also covers a large swathe of Southern Ijaw coastal waters.

“The volume of the damage recorded since 3rd of January 2024 and till date, if not quickly arrested, this leakage will lead to the pollution of the waters and their contents in the surrounding areas leading to a near-annihilation of aquatic lives which randomly show up at the coastal shores of the Middleton communities and Southern Ijaw coastal communities.

“The House is worried that despite the prompt reporting of this incident, the slow reaction of the companies who own these Facilities around these coastal line to take responsibility coupled with the lethargic attitude of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to promptly contain the oil Spillage could lead to massive unrests among youths and other residents of Southern Ijaw coastal communities who are predominantly fishermen and women whose livelihood, health and right to clean and safe environment is being violated by the continuous spillage”.

Adopting the motion, the House called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency NOSDRA, National Oil Pollution Management Agency
NOPMA, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA,
Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA and the Federal Ministry of Environment to conduct on-site assessments to determine the level of environmental damage and recommend appropriate remedial measures.

By Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji