Glady Nweke
The Rivers State House of Assembly committee on environment has said it would summon the National Oil Spill Detection and Remediation Agency (NOSDRA), Nigeria Agip Oil Company, NOAC; and the Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and all relevant stakeholders to appear before it following last week’s crude oil pipeline explosion in Ubeta community, Ahoada West Local Government Area
The Chairman House committee on environment, Hon Dumle Maol said this when he led members of his committee to the impacted site to ascertain the level of damage done by the pipeline explosion.
He stressed that the reason for the summon was to map out ways for the immediate cleanup of the impacted sites and restore the environment.
He urged residents of Ubeta community to continue to remain peaceful and desist from taking laws into their hands while assuring them of justice
He said, “We are going to invite them, including the community so that we can look for the way forward on the cleanup process”.
Meanwhile, the National Oil Spill Detection and Remediation Agency NOSDRA has blamed the explosion on sabotage.
Cyrus Nkanagun who is the South-South zonal Director of NOSDRA said the findings were made from the joint investigation visit to the impacted site.
And also urged the Agip oil company to commence cleanup within the shortest possible time.
He said NOSDRA would monitor the cleanup process and advise residents of the community against building on the pipeline right of way.
“It is an act of sabotage, even the community can’t deny that, but we have given Agip time to clean up the place, at least 1 month”.
In another development, the residents of Ubeta community in Ahoada West Local Government Area have accused the Nigeria Agip oil company of not doing enough for the community after 60 years it commenced operation in the area.
The paramount ruler of Ubeta community, chief Chimezie Nathaniel gave this message when the Rivers State House of Assembly Committee on Environment visited Ubeta community.
He urged the company to employ and build capacity for youths of the community, noting that the monthly 10,000 paid by the company to the youths for surveillance of the pipeline is inadequate.
“We don’t want to fight with Agip, but Agip has been here for over 60 years in Ubeta 1, Ubeta 2, Ubeta 3 and Ubeta 4. If they make our boys happy, most of these things would not have happened, if not for God’s intervention over 400 persons would have died for nothing, he stressed.
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