A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Centre for Social and Corporate Responsibility (CSCR), has advocated for a thorough investigation of any oil spill so as to ascertain the real cause and prevent a re-occurrence.

Speaking in an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt recently, the Executive Director of the body, Rev Fr. (Dr) Edward Obi, noted often when pipelines  bursted, the oil companies attributed it to sabotage, even when there was no clear evidence that sabotage had taken place in an area, thereby exonerating themselves from clearing up the area.

He said before attributing an oil spill to sabotage, there should be a thorough third party investigation of the causes of the spill. “Before going to the press to announce that a pipeline burst is an account of sabotage, there should be a third party investigation of the causes of the spill. And even though sabotage is involved, the companies should as a matter of priority seek to contain the spill and sensitise the environment,” he said.

The Executive Director observed that some pipelines in Nigeria had out-lived their useful ages and that could be responsible for some pipeline bursts.

He said, ‘Pipelines, according to industry standards, should not be older than about 15 years. In about 15 years pipelines should be changed because of the high pressure that goes through them. But if I tell you that some pipelines in this country are as old 40 years, would you believe that?’

“Now if they are as old as that with the high pressure going through them, the possibility of their bursting is very likely.”

Fr. Obi enjoined oil companies to always put in place the right kind of equipment, material, personnel, expertise and many more, so as to mitigate the possibility of a hazard.

He wondered why oil companies operating in Nigeria neglect the environment in which they operate as against what is obtainable in other countries.

He said, “What amazes me is that these same companies operate in other countries of the world. And I have been to a few of their facilities outside this country and I know what precautions they take, I know how much care they put in to extracting oil in other countries in Europe and in America. My problem is, why should it be different when they are doing the same processing in Nigeria.

He called for adequate care of the environment and more social responsibilities towards the communities by the oil companies, adding that, “it does not have to be either making profit or care for the environment. I believe it can be both making profit and also caring for the environment.”

Calista Ezeaku