Obarilomate Ollor, Eleme Local Government chairman, lamented the recent oil spillage in Aleto Community.
The spillage was caused by the breakdown of the Trans-Niger pipeline belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company SPDC.
Ollor, during a tour of the area, decried the devastating effect of the spillage on the famous Okulu River, a significant fishing point in the Aleto and Eleme communities. He, however, called for quick intervention.
He frowned at Shell’s approach to the spillage, adding that the Okulu River is no more as the extent of damage is overbearing. According to him, aquatic life is long gone, and economic activities are grounded.
He expressed disappointment with Shell’s response, adding that his preliminary findings show that the spillage resulted from a ruptured pipeline.
He cautioned Shell not to take the hospitable and peaceful nature of the Eleme people for granted.
“I have communicated to Shell management, I have spoken to consultants on this, I can tell you, they are going to pay dearly for this, our people are not happy, I am very much devastated, it’s a bad day for the Eleme people. The King of Eleme and I will talk to the people to calm the fray nerves and ensure that everyone doesn’t act illegally. While we have been here for two days, no one from Shell has shown up. Although they have called me, they have not shown up.
“We know that Shell knows what to do, which is called the recovery process, remediation and restoration. They must all be carried out here. We will follow it blow by blow. I have escalated it, and I have written a report to His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and he is aware of this development. Let them come, and let’s look at it together and agree on a document of what should be done. If the processes that ought to be followed are followed under our supervision as a local government, there will be no crisis”, he assured.
