Oil Spills Impacted Residents should be evacuated – MOSOP
The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP has called for the urgent evacuation of residents of Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, living around the ongoing oil spills impacted area.
Recall that a fresh oil spill from a facility operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, SPDC, rocked Okulu River in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State eight days a ago, devastating the environment and polluting the river which runs through several communities in the area.
To this end, MOSOP also called on the federal government to heavily sanction Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, SPDC for incessant oil spills and environmental pollution.
MOSOP President, Mr. Fegalo Nsuke, reacting to the fresh oil spills from Shell facility in Eleme, which has affected Ogale, Aleto, Agbonchia, Onne, Okpaku, Alesa communities in Eleme, alleged that Shell has not been sincere in the handling of and decommissioning of its facilities in Ogoniland.
Nsuke regretted that Shell, the operator of the leaking pipeline was yet to clamp the spill, which he said was likely to affect more communities in Ogoniland.
He alleged that the fresh spill was a testament that Shell was secretly operating its facilities in Ogoniland and wondered why the company has not decommissioned its facilities in Ogoni, following the recommendations of UNEP which Shell and the federal government claim to have been implementing in Ogoni since 2016.
“Environment pollution has been encouraged in Nigeria because there is little or no consequences for the polluters. This is something the government should strongly consider in the light of present realities where people’s lives are altered by constant pollution, and no one is held to account.
“If Shell claims that it is not operating the oilfields secretly in Ogoni, then how come we have such massive oil spills that affect several communities and have contaminated massive lands and waters in the area?
“The Ogoni area has witnessed several unrests over the years due to protests occasioned by massive pollution from Shell Petroleum, environmental and economic deprivations. The people have called for the implementation of an Ogoni Development Authority to address their concerns and restore normal economic activities in the area.”
Meanwhile, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited has finally confirmed the spills in Eleme which began last Sunday, saying that her response teams have been activated to take actions for the safety of the environment, people and equipment.
Shell Spokesperson in Port Harcourt, Mr. Michael Adande, said the company was working with stakeholders to investigate the cause of the spills and its impact on the people, environment and equipment.
“The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, operator of the NNPC/SPDC/TotalEnergies/NAOC Joint Venture can confirm a spill incident at a facility of the joint venture in Eleme, Rivers State, reported on June 11, 2023.
“We are working closely with a multi-stakeholder Joint Investigation Visit team led by the regulators, Nigerian Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, in collaboration with Rivers State Ministry of Environment and community representatives, as the investigation into the cause and impact of the incident progresses.
“Meanwhile, the SPDC Emergency Response and Spill Response teams have been activated, subject to safety requirements, to mobilise to the site to take actions that may be necessary for the safety of environment, people and equipment.”
