Oil bearing communities in Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa State have expressed concern over the activities of oil companies operating in the area, especially non remediation of spill sites, implementation of GMoU and payment of compensation to spill affected communities.
The communities spoke through their various representatives at an interactive session with the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission (BSOEC) yesterday in Ekeremor.
Speaking on behalf of Agoro ll community, a traditional ruler in Amananowei Agiro, Chief I. B Odukonson, said the oil spill at SPDC’s facility in 2018 which affected several communities had not been properly cleaned up, neither had the remediation been done nor compensation been paid.
He said: “The oil spill which occurred at a facility belonging to SPDC in May 2018 affected Agoro l, ll, Agge, Amaaou, Agge Palmbush and several other communities. I want to say that SPDC came for assessment and it was wrongly done with no JIV.
President of Pereturo federated communities, Engr. Agwana Wonoyor, said since Shell leased its oil wells in Pereturo to another company, they had not done anything tangible in terms of meaningful development in the community, a situation he said had caused tension between the company and the people.
