Bayelsa Community Sues Firm Over Oil Spills

Ikebiri community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has filed a lawsuit against ENI, the parent company of Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) at UN Italian Court over its liabilities over an oil spill and pollution in the area.
Ikebiri, which is a coastal community is seeking the cleaning of its environment and compensation for damages from an oil spillage that affected their community in 2010.
A statement signed by Head of Legal Resource at Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FOEN) Chima Williams,  said the organisation is supporting the community in its legal action.
A copy of the statement which was made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt also said the group is offering legal support services to the community alongside Friends of the Earth Europe.
According to the statement, Ikebiri community is seeking for adequate compensation and clean up of an oil spill that occurred in 2010 which is yet to be addressed.
It said that ENI, which operated in Nigeria as NAOC, was allegedly responsible for the spill that was caused by equipment failures.
The statement further said the Executive Director of ERA/FOEN, as saying, this is the first case of its kind against Italian oil giant, ENI, after years of oil exploitation in the Niger Delta of Nigeria.
“Negligence and nonchalance from ENI and its subsidiary, NAOC, has left the Ikebiri community suffering from the impacts of pollution for seven years.
“The leak was plugged in 2010 and NAOC claimed it had cleaned up the site.
“However the community said the oil spill was simply burnt, without their consent.
“To date, no adequate compensation has been offered or the cleanup completed”, Ojo said.
It also had the traditional ruler of the community, Chief Francis Temi Ododo, saying communities in the affected areas can no longer carry out fishing and farming activities. We are now looking to the Italian court for justice for our people.”
The communities of the Niger Delta have had to live for decades with the effects of continuous oil spills which had gravely affected their health, welfare and livelihoods.