The Obololi community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa has reported that no relief assistance has reached them following the oil spill on 16th February, which released crude oil and contaminated the River Nun.
The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) traced the source of the spill to a 16-inch Nun River-Kolo Creek underwater pipeline operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
Confirming the lack of response, the Chairman of the Obololi Community Development Committee (CDC), Mr Goodnews Okoi, expressed his concerns in an interview with journalists on Tuesday.
He highlighted that the riverine community, situated along the banks of the River Nun, is experiencing severe water scarcity amidst an ongoing cholera outbreak in Bayelsa State.
Lamenting the pollution of the river, which had previously been the community’s primary source of drinking and domestic water, Okoi stated that residents are now forced to rely on sachet water sold at inflated prices.
“We feel abandoned. This oil spill has severely affected the entire community. Our fishing activities have been put on hold, and our farmlands and creeks have also suffered contamination.
“The cost of water has skyrocketed by nearly 100 per cent. We now pay as much as ¦ 50 for a single sachet of water, while a bag costs ¦ 800. This is a heavy burden, especially given the widespread economic hardship.
“Unfortunately, the operators of the facility have shown no concern for the suffering caused by the spill.
“In fact, SPDC officials have told us that unless the Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) determines that the spill resulted from equipment failure, the company will take no action.
“We have also been waiting for relief assistance from the state government following the visit of the Bayelsa Commissioner for Environment.
“The local government chairman, Target Segibo, had promised to rehabilitate an existing borehole. They started repair work, but the submersible pump failed, and they have yet to procure a replacement,” Okoi stated.
He further noted that SPDC had not yet engaged with the community regarding NOSDRA’s recommendation to divert the river in order to access the leak point.
Okoi raised concerns that constructing a dam to divert the river could disrupt the movement of boats along the River Nun, affecting trade and transportation.
“This recommendation by NOSDRA is a major concern for us. How will boats carrying goods, merchandise, and essential supplies navigate if the river is diverted? SPDC must take these concerns into account and ensure its operations are carried out with consideration for human welfare.
“We have been dealing with the consequences of this spill since mid-February, yet the company has not provided any form of support despite the hardship it has caused,” he added.
Sources within the Obololi community informed journalists that efforts to recover the spilled crude into plastic storage tanks are currently underway.
Meanwhile, SPDC spokesperson Mr Michael Adande previously stated that the company had shut down oil flows into the leaking pipeline.
Although Adande had promised to provide updates on relief measures, remediation, and response efforts, he has yet to follow up with any new information.
