Okenyi Kenechi
Indigenes of Boro Community in Kula Kingdom, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State have cried out for help following an oil spill ravaging aquatic lives in the community.
The spill which occured along the 30″ kilometre Nembe Creek Trunkline (NCTL Sanbarth) – Awoba Pipeline Oil Spilled over Boro River in Boro Community.
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Oil spillage from ageing pipelines has become a come feature in the region, dealing deadly blows to the environment and altering the lifestyles of the locals in oil-producing communities.
While much of the spills have been attributed to ageing facilities – some of which were procured over five decades ago, the activities of vandals in the region have become recurrent features in oil spillage.
The assets which belong to Aiteo Exploration & Production Company Limited transports crude oil from the Nembe 1, Nembe 2, Nembe 3, Nembe 4, Odioma Creek, Santa Barbara MPF, Robertkiri, Ekulama 1, Ekulama 2 flow stations to Bonny Terminal.
The reason for the rupture on the trunkline was not immediately clear but inside sources blamed vandals for the spill.
The Public Relations Officer of the community, Ogdeide Ihama, told our correspondent that the community contacted Aiteo’s subcontractor in charge for the trunkline, Mr Godwin Ikalama, adding that the subcontractor has refused to act in order to stop the spillage.
He said the community was not able to reach Aiteo E & P but noted that the spill has affected aquatic lives in the creeks while also disrupting the lifestyles of the indigenes.
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Another community source simply identified as Kalama, who said he is among the youths working round the clock to stop further damage to the environment told our that at least 3,000 barrels of crude oil are spilt into the environments daily since May 2019.
The Source said the spill began sometime in May, adding that all efforts to get the company to shut down some of the flow stations in order to carry out repairs failed.
They said the company has not shut down any of the said flow stations from the day of the spill till date, adding that no relief materials have been given to the affected indigenes.
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The company could not be reached for comments but it said on its website that its environmental compliance team manages risks appropriately to ensure that we do the best we can as a business, adding “that greener workplace is our consistent goal and we meet this using ICT”
