Some residents in the
coastal settlements in Bayelsa State last Monday expressed worry over the alleged frequent pollution by operations of Shell and Agip.
The residents in the coastal settlements in Ogboinbiri and neigbouring communities of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area made their feelings known at a news briefing in Ogboinbiri.
They condemned the frequent pollution of Ogboinbiri River, saying they depend on the river for drinking and domestic use.
The communities said an ongoing oil leak from Seibou Deep facility operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has been discharging crude into Ogboinbiri River for more than a month.
Chief Columbus John-Bull, Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC) of Keme-Ebiama community, said oil exploration had caused untold hardships to the communities residing along the creeks.
According to him, the operations of Shell and Agip had frequently made their dominant source of fresh water unsafe for drinking and domestic use.
“We are hosting operations of two oil firms who both pollute our only source of water and this is regrettable.
“Whenever a spill occurs, the oil spreads to affect the rivers right from the Ogboinbiri axis to our own river and makes the water undrinkable.
“It is usually so devastating that our people could no longer go to the river and take their bath or fetch drinking water; the river is our main source of water for drinking and domestic use.
“Due to the heavy pollution and resultant scarcity of drinking water, the cost of water sachet in the community has risen from N10.00 to N30.00.
“We are very much worried and afraid that the situation might lead to outbreak of Cholera in some communities in the council area,” John-Bull said.
He alleged that Agip, which operates a flow station in the area, often dumps domestic wastes into the river while operational mishaps also end up with oil and gas discharge into the river.
The Community leader appealed to the oil firms to provide an alternative source of water to the communities.
He listed the communities often affected whenever the river was contaminated as Keme-Ebiama, Apoi, Kokologbene, Gbaruan, Ukubie, Lobia among others along Ogboinbiri River.
Our Correspondent reports that SPDC on March 5 confirmed an oil leak incident from its underwater line within its oil fields in the area.
A statement issued by Mr Joesph Obari, the spokesman of the oil firm, reported the leakage on January 23.
It stated that investigations were underway to unravel the cause of the leak and volume of crude discharged into Ogboinbiri River.