Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), a non-governmental organisation has called on the Nigerian Agip Oil Company to address the ecological problem caused by its long years of oil exploitation before selling its assets to other companies.
The foundation said this in a statement made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt..
The statement captioned: “Agip must answer to concerns over ecological, health, economic and social impact in the Niger Delta before selling it’s assets said the oil giant should first of all adress the environmental problems caused by its operation before selling it’s assets.
According to the statement, “Our attention has been directed to a press statement issued on September 4th, 2023, announcing that Oando PLC has concluded a deal with Eni to acquire 100% of the shares of Nigeria Agip Oil Company Limited.
According to the statement, the selling transaction is subject to the approval of the applicable authorities and other regulatory clearances.
“This transaction comes a little over two years after Shell, Chevron, Total Energies, and Exxon Mobil attempted to divest vital oil assets. International oil corporations operating in Nigeria’s Niger Delta have clearly agreed to sell off their onshore assets and depart the area.
“While we recognise that firms have the right to dispose of their assets as they see fit, we are worried about the way in which this transaction is being carried out, as well as the immediate and long-term ramifications for communities and the cause of ecological justice.
“We are particularly concerned about the following issues:
The statement signed by KOMO Odhomo media Director of the organisation  said the company ought to inform its host communities of its decision to divest its interest
“It is important to note that the so-called ‘host’ communities in which Agip has operated for up to six decades are unaware of the impending sale and have not been informed by the firm. They, like the rest of the population, just learned in the news that oil assets situated in their ancestral lands and rivers will be transferred to another company.
It further noted that the company’s operation for decades has left terrible ecological problem in the region.
“Agip has been operating recklessly for decades, leaving terrible ecological and socio-economic legacies.
“Several investigations have found the corporation and its collaborators responsible for environmental degradation that has destroyed livelihoods, poisoned communities, and created circumstances for human rights violations.
It further noted that  throughout its operations, Agip has consistently flared gas, wreaking havoc on the health, livelihoods, and environment of Niger Delta oil-producing communities.
According to HoMEF, “The United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, report on the impacts of hydrocarbon pollution in Ogoniland is a reference to the devastating impact of oil extraction.