News
Etche, Shell In Face-Off Over Oil Spill
The Anglo-Dutch oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) is currently in a face-off with one of its host communities, Okpuala-Okoroagu 11, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State over an oil spill incident at the company’s Nkali-well 11 facility located in the area.
The Tide gathered that following the dispute, a man identified as, Prince Chijoke Amadi, from the community was killed Wednesday while unconfirmed number of persons sustained various degrees of injuries.
A vehicle belonging to Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as well as other equipment were also burnt down, last week.
The Community Trust Secretary, Okpuala Autonomous Community, Okoroagu Etche, Mr. Amadi Aurelio, who spoke to The Tide, traced the problem to the evening of Sunday, 10th May, 2015, when community people were jolted by a heavy explosion from the oil well.
“On getting to the area, we discovered massive spillage every where. We contacted SPDC same evening and a team from the company came and left the following day. Another team came and confirmed that the spillage was from the well head,” he narrated.
He said the spill was a surprise to the community because SPDC tagged the well a dried one since 2007, and removed all the facilities, including the flow line.
“The location has since 2007 been abandoned by SPDC without surveillance, security, no grass cutting, no routine engineering maintenance, as a result, the place has turned to a thick forest”, he said.
The Secretary said on 15th May, the company stopped the spillage while discussions the company had with a delegation of the community twice at Shell Industrial Area, Port Harcourt were stalled as they could not arrive at acceptable conclusion.
According to Aurelio, instead of accepting negligence on the part of Shell as the cause of the spillage, the company turned around, saying the spillage was caused by sabotage so as to deny the community compensation for the huge damages suffered by the people.
“On 16th May, 2015, SPDC carried out a (JIV), Joint Inspection of the spilled area, and thereafter, forged the report without consulting the community leaders and chiefs”, he stated in a statement.
The statement alleged that because the community refused to sign the purported (JIV) report in which the company claimed that the spill was caused by sabotage, SPDC has resorted to invading the community with armed security operatives, intimidating leaders and Chiefs to sign the report under duress.
“This barbaric attitude of SPDC and the armed security men yesterday (Wednesday) led to the killing of one of the youth, Mr. Chijioke Prince Amadi during sporadic shooting, and others sustained various degrees of injuries and are now lying in critical conditions in one of the hospitals, as they invaded the house of one of the community leaders, Mr. Amadi Aurelio, who is the CT Secretary intimidating him to sign the forged JIV report”, it alleged.
Similarly, a statement issued by the headquarters of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Port Harcourt confirmed the death of the youth on Wednesday, and the burning down of the Corps vehicle by irate community youth.
The statement, which was signed by the Public Relations Officer of NSCDC, Mr. Oguntuase Michael, alleged that youth of the Community attacked men of the command while giving protection to some Shell staff and contractors who were there to fix vandalized oil well-heads and pipelines.
A Patrol vehicle of the Command was burnt down by the armed youth, leaving our Personnel to escape on foot. Information is also reaching the Command that one casualty was recorded in the unfortunate incident,” it said, adding that the command had ordered full scale investigation into the circumstances leading to the development.
But in a response to questions related to the allegations raised, SPDC, said that the joint venture has over the years “implemented community development projects and programmes at Okoroagu central community and the entire Nkali clan as part of its overall social investment intervention in the Etche area.
In a statement, signed by its Spokesperson, Joseph Obari, the company said that “under the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) agreement signed in 2007, SPDC JV has provided funding for electricity, water, town hall and other infrastructure in Okoroagu community.
“Also, more than 350 youth in the Nkali oil field area have benefited from the SPDC JV scholarship scheme and other human development programmes. SPDC JV will continue to contribute to the development of the area, although as is well-known, the development of a community is the collective responsibility of the government, the private sector and the people themselves.”
On the allegation that recent spill is as a result of a fault in its wellhead in Nkali, SPDC said that the claim was “not true”, explaining that “a leak was reported May 12 from Nkali gas Well-11 following the theft of the wellhead (Christmas Tree) by unknown persons. The well was not producing at the time of the incident.
“The wellhead serves as a seal and control system for a producing or non-producing well. Its removal at Nkali caused a leak of predominantly gas accompanied with some liquid which we stopped on May 15. Further repair work continued at the well location until June 1, 2015. It was clear from the joint investigation visit comprising representatives of regulatory agencies, the community and SPDC that the wellhead was stolen, although some community representatives refused to sign the report,” it stressed.
On concerns that SPDC has refused to address the impact of spill on farmlands, the statement said that “SPDC endeavours to clean up spills as quickly as possible, even the ones caused by oil theft or sabotage. At all times, we respond to spill incidents and work to clean up the spilled oil and remediate the environment as quickly as possible. However, sometimes access to the spill point and insecurity can delay our response.”
The SPDC also denied that it masterminded the killing of a community youth in cause of a peaceful agitation following the spill, noting that “Our staff have been engaging members of the community in order to assist with the demobilsation of a contractor who had completed securing the well from which the wellhead was stolen.
“After completing the work on June 1, 2015, the contractor was preparing to demobilise and vacate the worksite when some youth stopped him, demanding payment of compensation and other monies. On June 3rd, the situation escalated as our staff endeavoured to persuade the youths to allow the contractor to vacate the worksite.
“The community supported the well securing exercise, granted access to the contractor, and also supplied labour for the work. Nigerian regulations forbid the payment of compensation for sabotage spills. To set the records straight, SPDC did not deploy any security personnel to the community,” the statement emphasised.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested four notorious female drug dealers in Edo, Imo, Kano, and Gombe states.
The Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement in Abuja, yesterday.
Giving a breakdown, Babafemi said that in Edo, an intense sweep of notorious drug hotspots within Benin City by NDLEA operatives on June 2 led to the arrest of four key traffickers, including three females.
“At Uyosa, Benin City, two female suspects were nabbed with a cocktail of illicit substances, including 176 grams of skunk, 65g of Loud, and 5 grams of Methamphetamine.
“Along Agbor road in Benin City, another female suspect, 21-year-old Anita Abraham, was apprehended with 95 grams of Scottish Loud and 329 grams of regular Loud.
“At Upper Mission, Benin City, a male suspect was arrested with a diverse cache of psychotropic substances consisting of Loud, Colorado, Swinol, and Methamphetamine.
“A swift operation by operatives in Kano State on Thursday, June 4, led to the arrest of a 19-year-old suspect, Saifullahi Lawan at the Kafi area of Madobi, with 40 blocks of skunk weighing a total of 38 kilograms,” NDLEA said.
In a related development, Babafemi said, operatives in Gombe state intercepted a 28-year-old suspect on June 1 near Dantiti Plaza in the Tumfure area of Gombe.
“The suspect was caught with 15,000 capsules of tramadol,” he said.
He said the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands and formations equally continued across the country in the past week.
Reacting to the string of successful operations, the NDLEA Chairman, retired, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa commended the officers, men and women of the Imo, Edo, Kano, and Gombe commands for their resilience and vigilance.
Marwa also praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
He re-emphasised that the agency remains fully committed to dismantling drug supply chains and would continue to target traffickers regardless of age, gender, or concealment methods.
The Nigerian Navy says its operatives under Operation Delta Sentinel have intercepted over 135,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) during separate operations in Rivers State waterways.
Director of Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said the operations were carried out by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder around the Onne and Abonema axis.
He said the seizures were made during routine patrols aimed at curbing crude oil theft and illegal fuel transportation across creeks in the state.
In one of the operations, naval personnel intercepted a fibre boat at the entrance of Owogono Creek in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area carrying drums and jerrycans filled with suspected stolen AGO.
According to him, the occupants abandoned the boat and fled into nearby creeks, while the vessel and about 63,000 litres of product were recovered.
In another operation around Abonema in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, patrol teams intercepted a wooden boat conveying about 72,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO concealed in sacks.
The Navy said the products were being transported through waterways for onward distribution before the operation disrupted the movement.
Folorunsho said the recoveries highlight the continued exploitation of creek networks by criminal elements for illegal petroleum product transportation.
He added that all recovered items were handled in line with established procedures on anti-crude oil theft operations.
The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to intelligence-driven operations aimed at dismantling illegal oil networks and protecting Nigeria’s maritime economic assets.
The Permanent Secretary of Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr Honour Sirawoo mni, has charged public servants to embrace accountability and prudent management of public resources, stressing that government funds must be utilised responsibly.
Dr. Sirawoo made the assertion during the 41st anniversary of The Rivers State Television (RSTV), in Elelenwo.
He noted that public service demands commitment and sacrifice, urging workers to justify the opportunities entrusted to them through diligengence and productivity.
“All I try to do is to see that we have value for every kobo that we spend and value for our time.
“Government has a social responsibility to provide opportunities, but when you have one, you must guard it through hard work and ensure your presence is justified,” he stated.
The Permanent Secretary further appealed to workers to see themselves as ambassadors of their respective institutions, adding that government remains committed to creating employment opportunities and improving public service delivery.
Also speaking, former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr (Mrs.) Christiana Atako, praised the station’s professionalism and consistency despite operational challenges.
“We have never been disappointed. In spite of all the challenges RSTV had at that time, they never failed us. They carried our stories very well,” she said.
Dr Atako encouraged staff members to continually improve themselves through training, education and professional development in order to remain competitive in the evolving media industry.
Earlier, Acting General Manager of RSTV, Ambassador Paul Damgbor, described the anniversary celebration as an opportunity to reflect on the station’s journey of over four decades and appreciate those who have contributed to its development.
Pastor Damgbor said that the station had recorded remarkable improvements in recent months through the acquisition of digital cameras, computers as well as upgrades in audio and visual production facilities.
“We have seen great change. We were able to get new brand digital cameras and improve on our audio. We have also provided new computers for key departments, including News, Programmes and the Library,” Damgbor remarked.
He also unveiled a commemorative magazine chronicling the history and achievements of the station, describing it as a valuable reference material for preserving RSTV’s heritage.
The Acting General Manager, however, expressed concern over the theft of critical equipment from the station’s transformer, a development he said had forced the organisation to rely heavily on generator power supply.
The Senior Pastor of Gateway International Church, Pastor George Izunma, who gave a short charge during the event, urged media practitioners to uphold the ethics of journalism and remain committed to accuracy in reporting.
“You are pressmen. You are okay to doubt, but verify,” he advised, stressing the importance of credibility and responsibility in the profession.
He equally highlighted the need to “ask the help of God, sow a seed of help, and step into something as if you have help” stressing the need to move by faith for growth.
Some participants at the event also raised concerns about employment opportunities while commending RSTV’s growth and contributions to public enlightenment in Rivers State.
A major highlight of the celebration was the presentation of an award to the Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications in recognition of its diligence and service to the people of the state. Dr Honour Sirawoo also received a special award for his contributions to the growth and development of RSTV.
Awards were equally presented to outstanding members of staff of RSTV for exemplary performance and their dedication to duty.
The event also featured the unveiling and launch of the RSTV commemorative magazine as well as a tour of the station’s newly built cafeteria and other facilities.
The celebration marked another milestone in the station’s 41-year history and reaffirmed its commitment to excellence in public broadcasting.
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