Residents of Nembe, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have reported another oil Spill from Aiteo’s OML 29 in the area.
This spill is coming about four months after the devastation caused by the November 2021 oil spill at the same OML 29, operated by AITEO Exploration and Production Company.
The November 5 spill caused massive environmental pollution at the Santa Barbara River in Nembe and Brass Local Government Areas of the state for 32 days before it was stopped.
The indigenous oil company, AITEO , acquired the OML 29 assets for $2.4 billion in 2015, following the divestment by multi National oil firm, Shell Petroleum Development Company.
Investigation revealed that the current leak originated from a ruptured pipeline from Nembe Flow Station 4 close to Ogbolomabiri.
The source added that several barrels of crude oil are being spilled into the Nembe Creek since the leakage occurred.
A prominent figure in the area, Chief Ebinabo Waribo, of Malabo in Opu-Nembe confirmed the incident to journalists on Thursday.
He regretted that the oil firm was yet to commence steps to respond to the disturbing devastation being caused by the spill in the area.
“This is a major spill at ‘Nembe 4’ through the delivery line for several weeks now and Aiteo has not responded yet. They have not mobilised a spill response team to site to contain and recover the spilled crude.
“The oil discharge has spread to Bassambiri and its satellite communities and adversely impacted the fishing vocation of the people,” Waribo said.
Spokesman to Aiteo Group, Mr Ndianabasi Mathew, could not he reached for comments as the calls placed to his mobile telephone line indicated that it was either out of network coverage or unreachable,
Further investigation revealed that another spill from a facility operated by Nigeria Agip Oil Company occurred in Nembe town.
A top former member of the State House of Assembly who doesn’t want his name mentioned said that AGIP mobilize to block the leak after government attention was called to it
