Kelechi Kas
Concerned community leaders in Mgbede, Egbema kingdom in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State have cried out over oil spill on their River from the facility of Italian oil Gaint, NIGERIA AGIP OIL COMPANY LIMITED.
Chief Ukandu Nduburuoke, a leader in the community expressed disappointment with the ill-treatment of Oil host communities by the Company.
He said the incident was discovered a few weeks ago by the community and immediately, the community wrote to the company, calling their attention to the situation on ground, and demanding for an urgent joint inspection visit, repairs, Containment, total clean up and remedy for damages caused but received no positive response from them.
Chief Ukandu noted that the OGO MGBEDE NKISA RIVER where the AGIP flowlines pass is the only source of potable drinking water for the community.
He regretted that the crude oil spill has damaged the ecosystem.
He said: ‘As I speak now, the Aquatic lives in our Rivers: The Egu, Ishi_ike, orie_ri, Snails, Crabs and amongst others have been killed as a result of the CRUDE OIL SPILL.
“If you carefully look downward you will see our Farmlands, Economic tree’s, cash crops, (cassava, yams and plantains) have been flooded by the CRUDE OIL SPILL also trigged now by the ongoing 2019 flood affecting all socioeconomic activities of the MGBEDE People.
“We, therefore, call on the Rivers State Government; the speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly; permanent secretary ministry of environment and pollution control, Federal Ministry of Environment; Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and the Federal Government of Nigeria to compel the Italian oil Gaint (NAOC) to Clean up our Environment and free us from more Damages.
“NAOC Should provide immediate relief to the affected community while they carry out a Joint inspection visit, repairs, containment and total Clean up of the OGO MGBEDE NKISA RIVER.
“MGBEDE COMMUNITY is a major Oil host communities in the Niger Delta region, our Abundant gift of nature should not turn to a curse against us. Considering our Economic values, and huge contributions to the coffers of the local, state and federal Government, MGBEDE COMMUNITY in Egbema kingdom should not be this intimidated and abandoned to its fate while daily, NAOC milks Billions of Naira from our land, Same land they have damaged and refused to clean up”. he said
