Pollution: Over 100 Bayelsa communities tender evidence before panel

Over 100 communities have testified before the Bayelsa State Oil and Gas Commission sitting in Yenagoa, the state capital, and tendered evidence, accusing multinational oil companies operating in the state of polluting their environment.

Presenting his evidence, Bishop Oki of Agbayama Community in Ekeremor Local Governmenmt Area of the state, said oil and gas pollution had affected some communities in the area to the extent that plants had dried up and sources of drinking water had all been polluted.

Bishop Agbayama said the oil that spilled in Aghoro got to Agbayama, Ogbotubo, Letugbene and that they were thinking of stopping the operation in Ogbotubo.

“The devastation was serious, up to the level that youths in the community gathered to stop SPDC operations in Ogbotubo totally until the government intervenes,” he said.

He noted that their source of livelyhood was fishing but that presently they could not get any fish from the river of Ogbotubo and Agbayama due to pollution.

“We are having some challenges over there. All the communities around drink from the river and every year we lose more than 25 people. That is why we are begging the government to please tell Shell to answer us and come and clean the spills, if not, we may be tempted to seek self-help.

“Now Saipem is flaring gas in our community, more than the way it was before. We cannot sleep in our houses because of the heat, even if you install air conditioners in the house you cannot sleep because of the heat,” he said.

Responding, Chairman of the commission, Dr. John Santemu, assured the people that the commission would use all the evidences presented before it to clamour for change in the way and manner the oil companies operated in the Niger Delta.

Dr. Santemu said the commission’s public and evidence session was meant to help them make recommendations to foster change and seek help for the polluted environments.

While advising the people not to take law into their hands, he said, “There is a lot of oil spillage, gas flaring and air pollution, that is why we will not rest until justice is done.”