Some coastal communities in Bayelsa State have decried the negative impacts of the November 28 oil spill from the Brass Oil Export Terminal, belonging to Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

According to Mr Henshaw Oguwike, the Chief Information Officer, National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSRA), the leak discharged some crude into the Atlantic.

The Chairman of the Council of Chiefs of Odioma, Chief Francis Ikagi, one of the affected communities, decried the impact in an interview with newsmen in Yenagoa.

Ikagi said economic activities in the affected coastal settlements were paralysed following the incident, adding that “everything has stopped for more than two weeks now.

“Our fishermen have been forced out of the sea to pave way for Agip to commence clean-up of the waters, and nobody knows how long it will last.

“This spill has dealt a heavy blow to our people, whose businesses revolve around the water, from the traders who sell fish to those who sell nets and fishing gear.

“Our women who dry the fish and even the mechanics that repair and service outboard engines are all affected in one way or the other.’’

Also, Princess Elizabeth Egbe, the Chairperson of the Artisan Fishermen Association of Nigeria in Bayelsa, said the spill had brought untold hardships to fishermen in the state.

Egbe said more than 3,000 members of the association were affected by the spill, which occurred in Brass Local Government Area of the state.

She said dead fishes had been floating in the waters of Opoama because the spill had destroyed the aquatic life in the area.

“My people are suffering, their fishing tools are all destroyed and they can’t do any fishing activity because if they do, any implement they use will be spoilt.

“They cannot make any catch until the clean-up is done. These people depend on the sea for their daily bread. They are completely devastated.’’

The chairperson said the oil spill had also polluted the St. Nicholas River, which provided fresh water to the coastal residents for domestic use.

Egbe regretted that more than two weeks after the incident, the oil firm responsible for the spill had not shown any concern for the plight of the victims.

According to her, the fishermen had notified the oil firm of the impact of the leakage on the predominantly fishing communities, but  yet to get any feedback.

Efforts to get the comments of Agip’s Spokesman, Mr Tajudeen Adigun, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to the calls or text messages sent to his mobile phone.