…Fishing Settlements Destroyed
By John Ugo
Hundreds of fishermen living in the riverine communities in Southern Ijaw areas of the Niger Delta region have expressed deep concern over fresh oil spill reported at the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 59 operated by Conoil Producing Limited.
The platform is located around the Angofield near Tamazu settlements in Koluama Clan in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
It was gathered that the devastating spill occurred from the indigenous oil firm’s wellhead 1 on January 30 and “was spewing crude oil in gaseous form from an elbow of a pipeline linked directly to the Ango wellhead 1.”
Findings showed that crude oil and gas leaked in various quantities from the affected facility till February 2 when a team from Conoil mobilised to stop the spill.
However, before the team arrived at the spill site, the spilled crude oil had done serious devastation to the environment.
The oil had flowed into the marine environment of the fishing settlements in the area on the fringes of the Atlantic Ocean.
Chairman of Koluama clan oil and gas committee, Jonathan Amabebe, and the Tamazu community development committee (CDC) chairman, Ebibotei Kerimama, who confirmed the incident lamented the devastation caused by the spill.
They stated that the spill was being spread by the tidal ebb of the river.
The chairmen explained that residents were seriously agitated over the pollution caused by the spill because of its impact on their health and livelihood.
Amabebe said, “A similar incident occurred last December (2021). Even then Conoil did nothing positive concerning that by way of reaction. This one has happened again and it really spread in the environment but they have used dispersants, chemicals to dissolve or sink the crude oil in the water.”
“However, they couldn’t succeed in silencing the environment as the vegetation at the banks of the river tells their story of pollution. There are visible crude oil and soiled oily leaves.”
He called for the conduct of medical check-up for the community whose inhabitants have been inhaling the stench of spilled crude and gas
“I know our people are in danger, as far as their health is concerned,” he stated.
Kerimama who corroborated the committee chairman said the people were inhaling the pungent smell of crude oil and the company had not deemed it necessary to come to their aid.
The CDC chairman said, “But we are affected because we go about our means of livelihood in this same river, fishing. And it is on the same river Conoil has these wellheads. The wellheads are named after the oilfield, Ango 1, Ango 2, Ango 3, Ango 4 and Ango 5.
“So for now there is no fish in the environment. Even if we manage to catch few for our consumption we perceive the smell of petroleum in the fish like gas in the air. Yet, Conoil has ignored us as if nothing happened. The company has not shown concern about our plight; now their operation is affecting us.”
