By Edu Abade
Environmental groups have called relevant government agencies to be proactive on issues concerning environmental pollution and oil spills, following a massive oil pollution currently ravaging the Forcados area and the Okuntu and neighboring communities in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.
Reports from the community indicate that the oil spill was caused by a fire incident which happened on a Floating Production Storage and Offloading Facility owned by Brittina-U Nigeria Limited, at Ajakpa Field OML 90.
Okuntu Community, which is in Ogulagha Kingdom close to Ibabebe (Isiayegbene) and Odimodi (Beniboye) communities along the Forcados area, are also affected by the pollution.
In a statement issued by Communications Consultant, Elvira Jordan, Executive Director of Community Development Advocacy Foundation (CODAF), Benin E. Richard, faulted the Federal Government, Delta State Ministry of Environment and the Commissioner for Environment on their failure to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the incident or comment on the magnitude of the environmental disaster in Okuntu.
Richard, who lamented that the people of Odimodi (Beniboye ), Okuntu and Ogulagha communities and the ecosystem were under serious assault, maintained that it is imperative that the authorities take immediate action to address this situation.
He urged the Commissioner for Environment to visit the affected area promptly, providing hope and reassurance to the affected communities.
“We demand a comprehensive assessment, prompt cleanup, and adequate compensation for those affected. The government must take responsibility for ensuring the well-being of its citizens and the protection of the environment.
We will continue to monitor the situation and advocate for justice and relief for the people of Odimodi (Beniboye), Okuntu, Ogulagha and adjoining communities,” he said.
In his response, Executive Director of Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN), Barrister Chima Williams, stated that the neglect of the local communities affected by oil pollution has become one too many in the Niger Delta, stressing that such neglect by the relevant agencies has driven communities in the Niger Delta into deep levels of poverty, as the people rely on their environment for survival.
Williams also called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to immediately swing into action and compel the polluting company to clean up the polluted environment around Okuntu and other communities.
A woman who plies fishing in the community, Baby Oziye, lamented that the pollution has caused hunger in their community, as several people are now hospitalized after drinking their water, following the pollution caused by the spill. She added that the fisher folk are unable to carry out their fishing activities, causing hunger among the people.
Another resident of the community, Akin Ayigo, who also spoke on the issue, lamented that after the fire incident and pollution, neither the company nor the government has done anything about the issue, adding that fishing boats are afraid to go close to the polluted area due to the high level of chemical concentration in the area. He urged the relevant agencies to swiftly swing into action.
On his part, Chairman of Okuntu Community, Mofort Mebilaje, stated that fire broke out on July 18, 2024 from a facility owned by Brittina-U Nigeria, which caused crude oil and other chemicals to drift ashore, polluting the coastline of Okuntu and other communities.
He revealed that the people of the community are unable to carry out their fishing and farming activities which has crumbled the economy of the community, pushing the people into hunger and starvation. He added that the community had tried to escalate the issue to the company without any response.
Mofort charged the federal and state government to intervene on the issue and prevail on the company to constitute a Joint Investigation Visit to the community to determine the level of pollution and to send relief materials to the community.
