Bodo Oil Spill Compensation: Not Yet Uhuru For N’ Delta – CEHRD

The Centre for Environ
ment Human Rights and Development (CERHD) says, the proposed fifty five million pounds compensation by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPC) to Bodo over the 2012 Bodo oil spills does not represents victory for pollution ravaged communities of the Niger Delta.
The programme director of the centre, Mr Steve Obodokwe, who said this in an conclusive interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt said that rather than celebrate pollution ravaged communities should see it as a stepping stone for environmental justice “I must say that, it is not yet Uhuru. The people of Bodo and other communities in the Niger Delta should not think that it is all over.
“They must not go to sleep. Something must be done to ensure people get environmental justice”, he said.
On the issue of cleanup of the affected sites, he said that (CEHRD) had already made its position known to SPDC, that the cleanup should start first quarter of this year.
According to him, this is the time for Niger Deltans to be vigilant, knowing that the future is not bleak, especially now that the polluters are fully aware that it is no more business as usual as justice will surely come.
Mr Obodokwe said that the centre will continue to champion the course of environmental justice in the Niger Delta.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the Niger Delta have urged for collaboration between the media civil society organizations (CSOs) and communities to check the incessant cases of oil pollution of the region.
At a one day workshop organised by the Centre for Environment Human Right and Development (CEHRD) in Port Harcourt, the stakeholders also urged for adequate compensation for victims of oil pollution.
They noted that the workshop with the theme: “After Bodo: what next for oil impacted communities” should serve as a wakeup call for communities devastated by pollution to take up the challenge of fighting for its rights.