Nigeria: Oil Spillage - 33 Aggrieved Delta Ijaw Communities Writes NNPC

Thirty-three aggrieved Ijaw Communities of Gbramatu Kingdom in Delta State weekend sent a protest letter to the authorities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Nigerian Pipeline Storage company (NPSC) over the massive spillages from its trunk line, warning that if clean-ups of the spillage are not done within seven days, the companies will witness mass action.

‎Also demanded by from the NNPC/PPMC (NPSC) was the provision of relief materials and payment of adequate compensation to the ‎affected communities.

The affected Communities include the Ikpokpo, Tejubor, Okpelema, Opuede, Opuede-Zion, Opuedebubor, Meka-Ama, Oto-Gbene, New Jerusalem Zion, Mala-Gbene, Atanba, Okerenkoko-Gbene, Oporoza federated communities, Gama-Zion, Azama, Inikorogha, Ibanfa, Igoba, Kunukunuama, Pepeama, Kurutie, Jaghala, Okerenkoko, Egwa, Bikumor, Sarabubowei, Benikrukru, Kokodiagbene, Kantu, Bebebopre Zion, Olukperebu, Oburu, Ogbotu-Gbene and Seitorsububor

Communities of Gbaramatu Kingdom.

The aggrieved communities in a letter to the Group Managing Director of NNPC and Managing Director of the Nigeria Pipeline Storage Company (NPSC) formerly PPMC, dated the 26th of October, 2016, stated that though the joint investigation visit (JIV) was concluded on Monday 17th of October, 2016 with representatives of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), NNPC/NPSC, Ministry of Environment, NNPC surveillance contractor (OMS) and communities affected in attendance, the accused companies are yet to react.

The letter, signed on behalf of the Impacted Gbaramatu Communities by Johnbull Demebi‎, Edward Odudu and Chief Moses Bebenimibo and made available to Leadership via email, stated that " the communities stated that it was unanimously agreed by all parties concerned at the conclusion of the JIV that the cause of the massive oil spillage which lasted for two months was as a result of equipment failure at 6 o'clock (beneath the pipeline) at a welding joint"

"It would be recalled that the Spokesman of NNPC, Garba Deen Mohammed has started this position earlier on September 8, 2016. This unanimous agreement led to the communities giving permission to NNPC/NPSC to go ahead with the repair work to enable them pump crude oil from the Escravos terminal to Warri Refinery."

"However, to the surprise of the communities immediately after the repair work on the trunk line was done, NNPC/NPSC officials in Warri who had earlier agreed that the cause of the spillage was equipment failure made a complete turn around and claimed that they have instruction from Abuja not to accept the cause of the spill as equipment failure for now and subject the pipeline to further forensic analysis."

"The ruptured pipeline has been taken away for the so called forensic analysis by NNPC/NPSC without the involvement of NOSDRA, Ministry of environment and community representatives."

"It is insulting and provocative for a spiller like the NNPC/NPSC to refuse to accept the cause of an oil spill that has been determined and accepted by the regulators: NOSDRA and the ministry of environment. NNPC/NPSC is only interested in pumping crude oil through the trunk line whereas the affected communities are in pains and sorrow with more communities affected by the spill because of the deliberate and willful refusal of NNPC to clean up the impacted communities and curtain further spread."

"The communities in the light of the foregoing have given the NNPC/NPSC (PPMC) seven days ultimatum to clean-up the impacted communities, provide relief materials and pay adequate and fair compensation to the communities and people. If NNPC/NPSC fails to comply with our demands within seven days, we would have no other option than to shut down the Escravos to Warri trunk line until our demands are met."