Ebocha Blast: Community Demands N100bn From Agip

Former Chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, King Godwin N.K Giniwa (right), conferring with the new chairman, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja during the handover ceremony, last Thursday.

Host communities impacted by the triple blasts at Agip’s Ebocha Oil Centre in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Rivers State are demanding for N100 billion as special and general damages from the Italian oil giant, Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) following what apparently appears to be a stalemate between the firm and communities whose environment were devastated by the explosions.
Rising from a meeting of traditional rulers, Communities, youth bodies and other stakeholders, last weekend, the Egbema people resolved that since the company could not prove alleged sabotage, the host communities have no other option than to demand for adequate compensation to those affected by the triple explosions, which occurred penultimate Sunday, last Monday and Tuesday.
Addressing the media, the paramount rulers of Mgbede, Aggah, Okwuzi and representatives of other communities affected, affirmed that preliminary investigations so far point to the fact that the environmental tragedy was primarily caused by equipment failure.
Ezes G.E. Amuda, the Nzeobi of Egbema, Chadwick Ogor, Ignatius Ekezie, C.S.D.G. Nwanuka, Paramount rulers of Mgbede, Aggah and Okwuzi, respectively, who spoke on behalf of host communities, explained that most of the facilities and equipment need by Agip at the Ebocha oil Centre were obsolete and outdated some lasting over 50 years since it began operations in Egbema.
They contended that independent experts would be commissioned to take samples, test equipment, scope of impact on water, soil and air as well as health implications on the people.
The leaders also frowned at what they described as Agip’s insensitivity and criminal negligence, adding that the company was playing games with Egbema people.
Also speaking, Professor Victor Nwaugo, who led the Egbema team for the aborted Joint Inspection Visit (JIV), explained that the visit to the facility was stalled because of sharp disagreement between Agip, host communities and other relevant bodies.
He noted that regulatory bodies such as the Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Ministry of Environment, ONELGA, Agip officials were involved but the visit was stalemated because of parallel positions of those involved.

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