Coalition Harps On Proper Hazards Management

A coalition of civil society under the auspices of  National Coalition on Gas Flaring and Oil Spills in the Niger Delta (NACGOND), has appealed to the authorities concerned for proper management of hazards that are likely to result from the fire incident that occurred on Chevron’s rig facility, KV Endeavour, in Sangana community, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, in order to stall degradation of environments of surrounding communities in area.

The said facilities in the early hours of Monday, this week went up in flames in which three lives were allegedly lost, and the resultant heat has taken its toils on both aquactic lives and the residents of the sorrounding communities.

In a press statement, NACGOND which  comprises Stakeholder Democracy Network (SND), Centre for Environmental and Human Rights Development (CEHRD), Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Centre for Social and Corporate Responsibility (CSCR) and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Centre for Ethnic and Conflict Studies (CENTECS), Bayelsa NGOs Forum (BANGOF), Ijaw National Congress (INC), Pro-Natura International (PNI), Niger Delta Wetlands Centre (NDWC) and Kebetkache Women Organisation, said it was worried by the sheer frequency of incidents of large-scale oil spills and pollution in the Niger Delta.

“We are aware that this is already a major incident with potential for disastrous impacts on the local environment, ecology and livelihoods of communities in the region”, NACGOND’s national co-ordinator, Inemo Samiama said in a statement on Wednesday.

The group called on Chevron to avail the public and affected communities all information it has on the present situation and likely development from the incident in the days ahead.

The group also urged the Federal Government to undertake a quick assessment of the incident with a view to executing a vigorous response that would mitigate the consequences of the fire.

“If the situation is as grave as we fear it is, then we ask that government should work with both Chevron and, if necessary, the international community to mobilise an effective response.

“We urge both Chevron and the Federal Government to immediately inform communities living in close proximity to the site, and in the region of the actual situation and also afford them a realistic assessment of the risk that this incident poses moving forward”, it added.