Group Accuses SPDC Of Oil Spillage

Fishermen and Farm
ers under the aegis of seafood Dealers and Farmers in the Niger Delta, have accused the management of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) of an attempt to cover up the spillage which occurred at The Trans Niger Pipeline.
The spills which started November 22, through the Truns Niger Pipeline wreaked a lot of havoc around Okolo Launch and nearby communities such as Otobie, Kalaibiama, Oloma, Peterside and other territorial waters.
Speaking with newsmen, the Publicity Secretary of the organisation, Barrister Victor Fred-Eric  Pepple said that Shell’s alleged cover up was an attempt to deny the communities of compensation Mr Pepple said that despite the declaration by SPDC that the pipeline was out of use, it was discovered that the pipeline was fully operational until a swamp buggy caterpillar belonging to one of its contractors handling its project rammed into the pipeline, bursting and causing massive spill around Okolo launch and nearby communities.
He also described the statement by SPDC that the spill resulted from the 24 Inch TNP and not TNP 28 as diversionary and a conspiracy to  deceive the group.
“The development is a shock, we are not surprised because SPDC has consistently remained dodgy and evasive in their activities.
“We were on ground to witness the spill, it is a clear case of high handed conspiracy. The recent development makes it crystal clear that PDC is either involved in some kind of under hand activities involving Nigeria’s crude, or some one inside SPDC is conspiring to defraud the country by claiming a particular pipeline is out of service when it is actually active”, he said.

Cross Section of Students of the National Defence College Course 23 Geostrategic, Abuja on a courtesy visit to the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, recently. Photo: Chris Monyanaga