Tremor Hits Nine Bayelsa Communities

Earth tremor has been reported in nine communities at the Okordia-Zarama axis of Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, triggering fear and anxiety among residents of the affected towns.
The affected communities are Ikarama, Freetown, Kalaba, Ayamabele, Akomonu, Agbobiri, Epie-Zarama, Nyambiri-Zarama and New Jerusalem, which in recent time have suffered worst case of environmental pollution.
The area boasts of three manifolds, gas pipelines and over 150 oil wells operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC).
The Ikarama manifold alone controls over 85 oil wells in addition to two manifolds in Zarama making the area one of the richest in crude oil and gas deposits in Bayelsa State.
Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC) of Okordia community and head of the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU, Mr. Obonah Timi told journalists in Yenagoa that the earth tremor has left the entire people in confusion and uncertainty.
“It is something that the people are afraid of. They planned to evacuate the area until government came to reassure them. The entire people of Okordia-Zarama are concerned  because it is a sign of worst things to come,” Timi said.
He appealed that, “Government should not sit back. They should pay attention to the areas giving them the huge allocations and do something.
“There should be no extreme degradation. People should not die for something coming out of their soil. This is a timely warning and government and oil companies should be proactive.”
Timi lamented that although they have been crying for development, not much is being done to improve the living conditions of the people.”
Hon. In ruo Wills, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Environment Hon. Iniruo Wills who was in the area to inspect slight damages caused by the tremor, said the government and oil companies would invite experts to examine the area and proffer solutions.
Wills said it was unfortunate that crude oil is turning out to be a curse due to the  absence of best practices by oil companies and lack of interest by the federal and state governments.
“We laymen know that after taking out the oil, vacuum is created and they ought to pump in some fluid to stabilize the soil. Government should urge the oil companies to look beyond taking the oil,” he stated.