Communities demand cleanup, compensation
There is growing panic in several fishing communities in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State following an oil spill from crude loading operations at the Nembe Creek oilfield.
The Nembe Creek oilfield, located within Oil Mining Lease 29 (OML 29), is operated by Nembe Exploration & Production Limited, formerly known as Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Limited.
A field report by the Environmental Conservation Agriculture and Rural Development (ECARD) revealed that crude oil was observed along the creek and mangrove banks.
ECARD’s Lead Field Monitor, Chief Alagoa Morris, said the strong smell of crude became noticeable about two kilometres from Nembe Creek during the organisation’s visit.
According to ECARD, the spill had spread to several fishing settlements, with residents reporting losses in fishing activities and damage to fishing equipment.
The paramount ruler of the Nembe Creek communities, HRH Agent Waya, said the incident had further worsened the hardship faced by residents.
Waya said the community reported the spill to naval personnel after officials of the oil company allegedly failed to respond promptly to their concerns.
He added that women from the affected communities later protested at the company’s facility, demanding relief materials, assessment of damages and compensation.
According to him, the affected communities requested relief materials within three days, stressing that residents could no longer engage in fishing because of the pollution.
Waya said the spill reportedly occurred while crude oil was being loaded into a barge, which tilted and discharged crude into the river.
He listed Mile 1, Mile 2, Mile 3, Roka, Williamkiri, Atonbarakiri, Korukiri and Madam Wanwakiri among the affected communities.
Other affected areas, according to him, include Ewelesuo, Kpongbokiri, Victorkiri, Abuja 1, 2 and 3, Pipeline 1, 2, 3 and 4, Kalakububogo and Etikiri.
The women leader, Mrs Ebi Otokolo, said the pollution had rendered the river waters unsafe for fishing, domestic activities and other livelihood purposes.
She said residents had been forced to stay indoors because of the strong smell of crude oil, while fishermen could no longer access their major source of livelihood.
A resident, Mrs Love Mark, said some fishing nets contaminated by crude oil had become unusable.
Mark disclosed that individual fishing nets cost between N150,000 and N170,000, urging the oil company to provide urgent assistance to affected residents.
Also, a former youth president of neighbouring Ewelesuo community, Mr Daukoru Benjaka, called for the inclusion of the community and its fishing camps in the Joint Investigation Visit.
Benjaka said the spill had affected fish catches and other aquatic resources, including periwinkles, while threatening the survival of the fishing communities.
ECARD said its assessment showed substantial quantities of crude oil on the water surface and around mangrove roots, despite residents’ reports that tidal movements had reduced the visible spread of the pollution.
The organisation warned that rising tides could carry the crude deeper into the mangrove ecosystem, potentially causing further damage to aquatic organisms such as crabs, oysters and periwinkles.
ECARD said information from the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment and the Nembe Oil and Gas Committee indicated that a Joint Investigation Visit had identified operational failure as the cause of the spill.
However, the organisation noted that the exact volume of crude discharged and the full extent of the affected area remained inconclusive as of August 26.
ECARD added that the latest incident was part of a history of oil spills associated with operations in OML 29.
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