Delta communities lament widespread environmental damage due to recent oil spill

An oil spill that occurred earlier this month at Atanba in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, has caused extensive environmental damage, and the communities involved are lamenting.

The spill, reportedly from the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company Limited (NPSC)/NNPC’s Escravos to Warri crude oil truckline, has affected several communities, including Oporoza, Okpele-Ama/Tebujor, Ikpokpo, and others, damaging land, waterways, aquatic life, fishing materials, and drinking water.

The affected communities, represented by their solicitor Eric Omare, have criticized the NPSC/NNPC for allegedly neglecting their plight.

In a letter made available to PlanetPulse.NG, the communities claim that after promptly reporting the spill to NPSC/NNPC pipeline surveillance workers on August 11, 2024, the company failed to take immediate action or report the incident to the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA).

Instead, NPSC/NNPC allegedly mobilized its contractor to repair the spill site without conducting the required Joint Investigation Visit (JIV).

“The spillage has caused colossal damages to our lands, waterways, fishing materials, drinking water, and aquatic lives. We demand a Joint Investigation Visit comprising officials of NOSDRA, NPSC/NNPC, and affected community representatives. The NPSC/NNPC should provide relief materials to the people of the affected communities and assess the extent of damage for fair compensation,” the letter stated.

The communities noted that the spill has been exacerbated by fast-moving river currents, spreading the oil across multiple communities and causing ongoing suffering for residents.

They are also calling for a comprehensive cleanup, the provision of relief materials, an assessment of the damage, and fair compensation for the affected people.