FRSC officials certifying petroleum tanker drivers in Eleme Local Government of Rivers State recently. Photo: NAN

There are indications that
the Federal Government may drag the Anglo Dutch oil gaint, Shell Exploration and Producing Company (SNEPCO) to court following its refusal to pay the fine imposed on it over the Bonga oil spill.
The value of the fine is $3.6 billion.
The National Oil Spill Dectection and  Response Agency (NOSDRA) which gave the indication, expressed dismay over the refusal of SNEPCO to provide relief materials for the shoreline fishing communities due to the huge impact of the spill.
According to NOSDRA, over 40,000 barrels of crude oil spilled into the Atlantic Ocean, and that the spill occurred as a result of equipment failure, making SNEPCO responsible for the damages.
NOSDRA had issued a statement through its Head of Public Affairs, Mr Henshaw Ogubike, saying,  “Despite the fact that the incident was caused by equipment failure and the admission by the then managing director that 40,000 barrels of crude oil spilled into the Atlantic Ocean, no attempt was made by the oil company to provide relief materials for the shoreline communities with respect to the acute and chronic impact of the crude oil on the environment,”.
Ogubike said in 2014, NOSDRA issued a notification of sanction to the oil company with regard to the Bonga Spill incident but it has yet neither paid compensation to the affected shoreline communities nor provided relief materials to them as directed by the agency and the House of Representatives Committee on Environment.
However, in a reminder signed by the D-G of NOSDRA, Mr Peter Idabor, SNEPCO has again been urged to pay the said amount either in its foreign currency value or Naira equivalent as compensation and administrative costs for its failure to effect clean-up on the impacted site within the stipulated period as provided in the agency’s Act and Regulations.

Chris Oluoh