50 Bayelsa Fish Farmers Drag SPDC To Court

L-R: Communications and Engagement Manager, GSK Consumer Nigeria Plc, Ms. Bolaji Sanyaolu, Brand Manager, Ribena, Mr. Essien Ekemini, winner of N1million cash prize, Mr. Jude Nwosu, Head of Sales, Mr. Joseph Agwa and Customer Marketing Manager, Mr. Flyinfolu Adewakun both of GSK Consumer Nigeria Plc, during the cheque presentation of the Lucozade Ribena Big Cash Giveaway Promo

About 50 fish farmers impacted by the April 15 oil leak incident from Shell’s Kolo Creek oil fields in Otuasega, Bayelsa State have decided to seek judicial help over the spill which they claimed have damaged their businesses and source of livelihood.
The farmers said that a Joint Investigation Visit to probe the cause and impact of the spill concluded their finding without reference to their farms despite efforts to draw the attention of the team to the impacted areas.
A spokesman of the farmers, Mr Aku Aseimo, whose three ponds were impacted, said that the affected farmers decided to seek legal redress following the adamant posture of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
“This is a clear case of the strong and rich oil firm against the weak and poor farmers, they are claiming that the spill was caused by sabotage, and abandoned the polluted environment.
“The regulations which they rely on to absolve themselves clearly stated that the operator of the field, where pollution occurs cleans up the site irrespective of the cause, but SPDC officials declined to capture the farms as impacted areas.
“We have always believed that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man, and we shall tell the courts that the spill was as a result of negligence by SPDC surveillance contractors deployed to guard the facility.
“We have decided not to resort to self help but to seek justice, and we are appealing to public interest organizations to come to our aid, we are currently counting our losses,” Aseimo lamented.
The farmers, made up of fish farmers, banana as well as plantain plantation owners in the area, also appealed to Bayelsa State  government to assist them in prevailing on the oil firm to clean up the areas and compensate them.
Bayelsa Commissioner for Environment,Hon Iniruo Wills,  had said that the state government would verify the reported exclusion of impacted sites from the ongoing clean up.
“We have to look into the information and verify it, and if it is true that the impacted area was larger than what was originally captured, we shall find a way of addressing these concerns.
“All the parties have a duty to make sure that they are included, nobody can hide under the cover of technicalities to say that a fact that is reality will not be captured.
“We have to look at it and address it one way or the other, even if it means paying another visit, another JIV to expand the scope, we cannot leave those people outside the net of justice,” Wills said.
However, Head of Media Relations Manager in SPDC, Mr Precious Okoloba, said that the oil firm stands by the JIV report that allegedly excluded vast parts of impacted areas.
“The JIV clearly states the cause and area of impact.
“Under Nigerian oil and gas regulations, the JIV determines the cause and impact of spill incidents. The investigation team, which visited the site of the Kolo Creek spill on April 16, concluded that the spill was caused by sabotage,” Okolobo said.