Pollution issues around Akuku-Toru communities of Rivers State

The Akuku -Tolu Local Government Area of Rivers State has decried the activities of multinational companies operating in the area over the pollution of the environment and total neglect of affected communities.
Kula community in particular had in the past two years been at loggerheads with Shell over environmental pollution and neglect and wanted its OML25 to be given to an indigenous company.
The community’s grouse was because the communities lack basic amenities such as pipe-borne water, good health facilities as well as clean environment devoid of pollution and contamination.
The oil bearing communities of Belema had in August last year shut down operation of SPDC on OML25 over alleged neglect and environmental devastation.
The people, especially women, have continued to occupy the OML 25 insisting that Shell must divest the mining license to an indigenous company.
Recently, youths on the platform of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and other affiliate youth bodies led by the national president of NYCN, Sukubo Sara Igbe, went on a fact-finding mission to the oil bearing communities of Akuku-Toru LGA.
The group expressed displeasure at the level of environmental pollution of the affected communities especially their source of drinking water and lack of infrastructure.
They called on the Federal Government and international community to come to the aid of the affected communities.
The group said it would petition both the Federal Government and international community on the need to address the issue of environmental pollution and neglect of the affected communities.
It promised to support Kula and other communities in the area of agitation to secure justice against the alleged neglect by the international oil companies in the area.
The team, which visited other communities such as Kile Ama 1, Offoinama and Belema, expressed concern over the level of environmental pollution and the effect on the people.
The protesting women, who spoke to the team on arrival at the OML25 facility, said their continuous occupation of the facility was a clear demonstration that SPDC should leave the area.
One of the women leaders, Mrs. Olu Ekine, said: “We have stayed a year and three months at this facility because of how SPDC is treating us. Since SPDC started operations for over 37 years, all they do is to pollute our environment.
“They have not carried out any meaningful infrastructural development; no school, and no employment for indigenes who are graduates. There is no hospital. Our environment is polluted and highly degraded because of oil exploitation,” she said.
“When our women want to give birth we travel far distance. As we are travelling, sometimes the boat will break down and the person will deliver inside the boat. Sometimes the baby or the mother dies,” she also said.
Solomon Gilbert, leader of Offoinama community, who conducted the team round the community said the people have not benefitted from SPDC in the over 37 years of its operation in the area.
He said: “All we see is devastated and polluted environment. Their operations have destroyed our aquatic life. We built the school on our own. You can see that it is a makeshift school with only mud the floor.”
While calling on the oil companies to show to the public any project they have done in the community, he added that “we have no water as our only source of drinking water is polluted.”
Another resident of the area, Ene Jackrich, said they carried out land reclamation on their own, adding that they also do not have a landing jetty.
Sukubo and other youth leaders urged the Federal Government to give OML25 to an indigenous firm that understands the people of the region.
“We heard that SPDC has spent $300 million but there is no sign of it here. There is no part of the community that you see anything, that shows that Shell has spent such sum,” he said.
Meanwhile, the secretary of Offoinama Council of Chiefs, Chief Fiala Tubolabo Fiala, has said: “We are living in abject poverty. That is how the IOCs kept us. Everything we have is by our own efforts. We are happy for your intervention and we will support you to ensure that we have justice.
“We have no land to build. We know that we will succeed in this fight. We know that you will take up this matter so that Shell will know that we have youths in Nigeria.”
Reacting, Shell said the allegations by the women and leaders of Kula were baseless, but stated that there was need for dialogue.
A statement signed by the Media Relations Manager, Bamidele Odugbesan, on behalf of SPDC’s External Relations General Manager, Igo Weli said, “SPDC has also restated its commitment to dialogue and peaceful resolution of disagreements with the invaders.
“A group of people invaded the facilities on August 11, 2017, ejected the staff on duty and have illegally remained in occupation of the facilities since then,” he said.
“The group has so far rebuffed all entreaties to resolve their grievances through dialogue but has instead demanded immediate transfer of ownership and operatorship of the facilities to their preferred indigenous oil firm, under the pretext that SPDC has over the years neglected the interests of the local community.
“SPDC believes that all stakeholders in the matter should give the Rivers State Government-initiated mediation process the chance to resolve the disagreement peacefully.
“Our primary goal is the safe and peaceful resolution of this dispute, and we encourage all parties to return to dialogue to protect the safety and security of all concerned including those occupying the facility, community members, SPDC staff and contractors,” the statement said.
He said SPDC and its Joint Venture partners would continue to implement multi-million naira social investment programmes to the benefit of the people of Kula Kingdom and other oil bearing communities in the area notwithstanding that the company has not been allowed to operate the facilities since the illegal occupation began 13 months ago.