JIV Reports Indict Shell On Oil Spills In Bayelsa

A Joint Investigation Visit
    (JIV) report on Seibou and several other oil wells that are spilling its contents into the environments in Bayelsa State operated by Shell Development Company has been attributed to equipment failure.
The reports estimated that some 549 barrels of SPDC,s crude stream was discharged into Ogboinbiri River in Southern Ijaw Local government area and impacted several other communities living along the coast.
The JIV report obtained on Monday, indicated that the visit was concluded on March 13, 2015.and traced the spills to raptured pipes which were fast aging.
SPDC had in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Mr Joesph Obari, said the leakage was reported on January 23,2015, and subsequently shut the facility 15 hours afterwards when it became safe to do so.
The JIV team comprised of Bayelsa Commissioners of Environment, Mr Iniruo Wills, Agriculture, Mr Thomas Commander, officials of SPDC, National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA).
Environmental Rights ActionlFriends of Earth Nigeria (ERAlFoEN), an NGO and members of impacted communities were also part of the investigative visit.
A visual assessment of the underwater six inch crude flow line by all the parties in the JIV team showed that the pipeline failed due to corrosion.
Hundreds of oil workers were deployed at the Seibou well head location in the channels of Ogboinbiri River to excavate the pipeline for inspection to unravel the cause of the spill.
The oil spill response team of SPDC had used booms, (plastic materials) to cordon off the canal to ensure that any residual oil leak will be trapped and recovered.
Speaking during the joint visit, Wills, Bayelsa Commissioner for Environment noted that the state government had resolved to overhaul the entire spills and pollution response process.
“We have noted that the joint investigation procedure had not achieved the desired result and we are resolved to follow up the entire process in details, technical staff have been so directed to be fully involved.
“Also, we have taken steps to make the JIV process very transparent and integrate all the relevant stakeholders just to ensure that every party is represented,” Wills said .