… As Community Leaders Laud Agip For Quick Response

However, Some com
munity leaders of Brass in Bayelsa State have commended the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) for its quick response to clean the oil spillage that affected their area.
One of the leaders, Mr Israel Igoli, told newsmen in Yenagoa, that the officials of the oil firm promptly responded to the report concerning the spillage on the coastline of Brass.
“The swift response to the spillage along Brass coastline is an indication that the oil company takes issues of the environment very serious. “Youth leaders in the affected communities, officials of Agip, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) have also visited the area,” he said.
Igoli said that the communities which were affected by the oil spill included Twon Brass, Okpoama and Odioma in Brass local government area of Bayelsa.
He said that over 3,000 fishermen had suspended fishing in the area due to the damaging effects of the oil spill on their fishing tools, particularly fishing nets.
“As one of the elders, I believe that Agip is working on some compensation for the affected communities after the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) report. “The company has also concluded plans to send relief materials to the affected people; therefore, the people should not panic,’’ he said.
A youth leader in the area, Mr Hilary Munasuonyo, also commended Nigerian Agip Oil Company for its efforts to deal with the oil spillage.
He noted that the company officials had been touring affected communities in a helicopter since the occurrence of the oil spillage.
Another youth leader, Mr Fred Charles, also noted that Agip had gone round the affected areas in a helicopter with DPR and NOSDRA officials.
“They have been able to contain the spillage from spreading to other areas; their response to the disaster aptly reflects their concern for environmental issues,” he said.
All efforts to get reactions from Agip on the spillage, however, proved abortive.