Indigenes of the Kalaba community, Okordia clan, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, are supposed to be happy. At least their community is host to one of the giant oil companies, the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).
Ironically, they are dejected and disappointed. Instead of enjoying the benediction of oil they are rather afflicted by its malediction. Recently, they raised the alarm that one of the sites hosting the oil facilities of Agip was in fire. The fire was said to have raged as the spill bubbled forth from the facility.
Their anger is that the fire would have been prevented if Agip had responded immediately it got information about the first oil spill that occurred there on January 12th.
A report released by the Environmental Right Action (ERA) and Friends of the Earth (FoE) indicted Agip. It accused the oil giant of nonchalance. The Bayelsa State representative of ERA, Mr. Alagoa Morris, said a case of oil spill was reported within the environment of Kalaba on January 12.
He said at that time, the spill point was just emitting gas and oil and had yet to spew from the point of rupture. “ERA promptly informed some top Management Staff of Agip and urged that the company take advantage of the scenario then and promptly mobilize to site for clamping before more harm was done”, he said.
He said that Agip acknowledge the information. But it beat the imagination Morris that the company which got information about the spill failed to take positive remedial action until the spill point increased and crude spewed so much that it caused fire outbreak.
“When ERA’s field monitors responded to very recent calls about a current spill and rushed to the community; the field monitors were led to the same spill point of 12th January, 2015 and were astonished that this was the same spill that ERA urged Agip to attend to more than two weeks ago”, he said.
In fact, the indigenes of the community are disappointed at the development. The community’s Paramount Ruler, Chief Roman Oruka described it as an unfortunate situation.
He said: “It is very unfortunate that this is happening again. It is even more worrisome by the way Agip is behaving; it seems Agip has a hand in the spill. The spill occurred on the 12th of January, 2015 and Agip was promptly informed same day.
“The company came to see the spill point the next day, being 13th January, 2015. But, it is surprising to see that Agip has failed to return and stop the spill until crude oil has now spread in the environment. It seems Agip is interested in the destruction of our environment.
“After all they are the very contractors for clean-up jobs; we are gaining nothing from these spills. Agip should know that the environment is our life, health and wealth. In this regard, I wish to urge Agip to help us protect our environment by coming to stop the spill and carry our immediate clean-up. This, the company should do to ensure a safe environment for our people”.
A lady whose cassava farm was destroyed by the spill said her produce had been rendered useless by the incident. The lady who identified herself as Joy Kumosuoyon said: “It is about two weeks since this spill occurred.
“And it has affected my cassava farm negatively. When I went and harvested some; they have gone bad, polluted by the crude oil; no way to eat them because of the crude oil impacts on the cassava”.
The Youth President of the community, Mr. Samuel Oburu confirmed what the paramount ruler said. He narrated: “This spill occurred on the 12th of January, 2015. And, to be very sincere the spill is very close to the community.
“Even when we are right in the community we perceive the crude oil, we also inhale it and; I think it has negative effects on our health. I am aware that Agip, the owner of the facility have sent its production team to come and check the spill site; yet nothing has been done
”I know it is their habit; but we are still crying out loud. Agip should come and stop this spill and make necessary repairs as to stop further spread of crude oil and related pollution in the environment.
“It is really an unfortunate scenario we find ourselves. I was even invited by the State Security Service [SSS] and I told them we are seriously investigating who was responsible for the spill.”
In the report of ERA, Morris described the attitude of the company as corporate irresponsibility. He said even if the pipeline bearing the crude oil was sabotaged by a third party, it was not enough for Agip to ignore it.
“It should be an understatement to state that Agip is culpable; the history/details of this spill indicate an act of Corporate Irresponsibility on the part of Agip; even though those who sabotaged the crude oil bearing pipeline deserves condemnation.
“That a stitch in time, saves nine; is a well known saying and, this is where Agip fell short of being Corporately Responsible; for leaving a small spill unattended to for over two weeks until it became bigger spill.
“As at the time of ERA’s visit on 28th January, 2015 the spill point was still bubbling; like a boiling pot. But the surrounding environment shows that there was an initial spraying on crude oil high into the air as plants and environment on both sides of the pipeline depicted.
“It also reveals Agip must have reduced the original pressure along the pipeline; as it was no longer spraying into the air but just bubbling as at time of ERA’s visit.
“Crude oil was streaming down to nearby natural water course behind the community and leaves of impacted crops and other vegetation were observed to be at different conditions; wilting, dying and dead. The grass within the area impacted along the pipeline are all dead including plants close to the Right Of Way (ROW). They are all drenched by crude oil.”
ERA said it would not be tired of advocating for the right things to do in the interest of the environment and, best practices in the oil industry. It said the oil industry regulations demand prompt stoppage of spills, containment, clean-up and remediation no matter the cause.
The group, therefore, demanded that Agip should take immediate steps to stop the spill by going to site and effect clamping after Joint Investigation (JIV). It asked the company to take all necessary steps to prevent such delays in responding to spill incidents; especially when there is no security or accessibility issues.
It said: “Agip should ensure steps are taken for the immediate clean-up of impacted environment. The regulatory agencies [NOSDRA and SMoE] should also play expected roles in ensuring the safety of the environment.
“The Security agencies should try and do follow-ups with intensive investigation with a view to apprehend and prosecute real culprits. Again, both the government and oil companies should channel resources toward sensitisation of communities on the dangers inherent in such acts relating to third party spills.
“Finally, the government and oil companies should play the Corporate Social Responsibility roles expected of them by meeting the developmental needs of our communities from time to time”.
Agip could not be reached for its reactions.
