Looming disaster in oil spill sites in Bodo Ogoniland: LGA Chairman calls on Shell, Relevant Authorities For Quick Intervention

*Residents in peaceful protest

Eric Olusesan/Port Harcourt

As disaster looms at the oil spill sites in Deebom community area of Bodo city,in Ogoniland in Gokana local Government Area of Rivers State,Chairman  Confidence Nyima Deko has called on Shell’s  quick intervention to avert human tragedy.

Residents have been caught on camera taking turns to scoop the gushing spills, exposing themselves to imminent danger of explosion from the  highly inflammable crude oil.

Gokana Council Chairman, Confidence Nyima Deko, has called on Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, and other relevant authorities to quickly intervene in the oil spill incidence in Deebom area of Bodo city which occured due to suspected equipment failure.

In a press statement signed by Maxwell Dukori,Chief Press Secretary to Gokana Local Government Council and made available to our Correspondent,the said “the situation on ground  in Bodo was a disaster that must be addressed with the argency it deserves.

“He said his Administration prioritizes  the safety of the people of Gokana, and as such the Council under his watch will do everything possible to ensure the safety of the people.

The Gokana Council Boss has equally called on the people of Bodo Community to maintain peace and avoid anything that will aggravate the situation on ground. And has also sent security agencies to maintain peace and order in the community.

“The DPO of Kpor Police Division who was accompanied by other security agencies to the spill site, advised the people of Bodo to maintain peace and order, and avoid anything that will ignite a fire outbreak, as the entire area is already in danger.

“Our prayers are with the people of Bodo Community.”

Our Correspondent reports that there are possibilities of  imminent explosion  as residents of Bodo community  risk their lives to scoop gushing crude oil from spill sites of burst Trans Niger Delta Pipeline (TNP).

The latest reports from the area show that villagers are taking turns to scoop the crude oil which is the second spill in the month of August highly inflammable and capable of cause massive explosion.

Earlier in week residents of the spill imparted area stage peaceful protests calling on Shell and relevant authorities to come to their aid to avert disaster.

The latest spill was reported to have occurred in Bodo in the late evening of Wednesday, August 24, 2022, while the first was August 2.

A statement signed by the centre’s Executive Director, Fyneface DumnameneFyneface, and made said that “Members of YEAC-Nigeria’s grassroots monitors and advocacy team under the auspices of ‘One Million Youth Volunteers Network of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters in the Niger Delta’ reported that the new spill occurred in Bodo in the late evening of Wednesday, August 24, 2022.

The group said the August 2, 2022 oil spill from Shell’s facility which the standards of measurement was not known to the public was reported to have spilled only ‘five barrels’ of oil into the environment, blamed on equipment failure after Joint Investigation Visit (JIV), Shell accepted responsibility for the spill and discussion for the payment of compensation and clean-up currently ongoing.

Shell Petroleum Development Company says five barrels of crude oil which spilled into Bodo community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, was due to operational failure. 

Spokesperson of the company, Michael Adande, said the impact of the spill was minimal.

This is according to the Joint Investigation Visit report by the host community, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, SPDC, and the Rivers State Ministry of Environment.

However, According to advocacy centre’s member in Bodo Community reported that the latest spill occured at about  4:23AM (local time) on August 25, the new spill occurred on the Trans Niger Delta Pipeline (TNP) in Bodo City  as a result of equipment failure’.

“He reported that ‘Another oil spill as a result of equipment failure on the TNP within Kol Taa area behind Saint Pius 10th College, Bodo City, Gokana LGA, Rivers State. Please take note’.

“While not concluding on the possible cause of the new oil spill in Bodo Community as reported by its member till Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) is carried out, YEAC-NIGERIA condemns this new oil spill.

The organisation calls on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), SPDC and other relevant authorities to immediately mobilise for a consultative meeting with the community leadership, carryout a well-representative Joint Investigation visit (JIV) that includes the media, non-governmental organisations and other relevant stakeholders to determine and confirm the cause of the spill and then take appropriate steps to clamp the spill point, clean up the environment and pay adequate compensation to members of the community that have been impacted by the oil spill.

Shell  and other concerned oil companies are advised to use this opportunity of reduction in the pressure of crude oil transported through the Trans Niger Pipeline due to mass tapping by alleged crude oil thieves to overhaul the aged facility by replacing the out-dated and obsolete pipes that are bursting and deflating like balloons to forestall further equipment failures and spilling of more crude oil into the fragile Niger Delta environment.

It would be recalled that similar oil spills in Bodo Community in 2008, among others, made the community drag Royal Dutch Shell before a London High Court. Shell later opted for out-of-court settlement, accepted responsibility for the spills and paid £55million compensation in 2015.

A component of the 2015 out-of-court settlement process also saw SPDC carrying out special environmental clean-up in Bodo Community but the exercise is being complicated by re-pollution through new oil spills from further equipment failures including the August 2 and August 24, 2022 oil spills, among others”, the statement added.