Residents of Kalaba/Ayamabele and Akumoni communities of Okordia clan, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State are currently living in fear of the outbreak of an epidemic following multiple oil spills that occurred on the pipeline operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company located in the area.
Our correspondent gathered that the spills occurred between November 2 and 3, 2015, from about 12 ruptured points on the pipeline, and currently discharging crude oil into the environments of the communities destroying aquatic life and vegetation.
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, has ordered Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Ltd (SEEPCO) to pay a N68 million fine imposed on it by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) for failure to report the oil spill incident that happened at the Okwuibome location C (OPL 280) on March 5, 2011.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Olatoregun-Ishola upheld the submissions by counsel to NOSDRA and held that SEEPCO was in breach of Section 6 (2) of the agency’s act when it failed to report in writing the oil spill incident at OKWC and that the agency had the powers under its enabling act to impose the fine of N68 million.
The current spill incidents were reportedly caused by a third party interference following alleged non-payment for clean-up jobs by Agip.
Former youth president of Kalaba community, Joel M. Joel, confirmed the spills and said the communities had been having challenges with the company.
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