Some residents at Imiringi, Ogbia Local Government Area
of Bayelsa, have lamented blockade of natural water channels by oil and gas
exploration activities at nearby oilfields.
The residents said on Monday in Yenagoa that the indiscriminate activities have
also created artificial channels resulting to flooding of farmlands and
plantain plantations in the area.
Chief Rotami
Ademe member of the Olugbo family in Imiringi, whose and was affected said that
exploration activities at the oil field have created ecological problems that
took a negative toll on their farmlands.
‘’As Shell
started work, it affected our farms; plantain. The natural creeks were blocked
and so all our crops were damaged and, no money.
“The canal
dug by Daewoo as instructed by Shell and blocking of the natural water channels
prevented free flow of water.
“This led to
our farms being waterlogged and destruction of our crops. Farming is my main
means of livelihood.
“As water no longer flow as it used to be in the
environment owing to the canal and blocking of natural water channels by
Daewoo; my farm became waterlogged and that damaged my plantain’’ Ademe said.
A former Vice-Chairman of the Community Development
Committee (CDC) of Imiringi ,Mr Ranami Afagha said that oil and gas field
development activities at Shell’s field had adversely affected the natural
ecosystem in the area.
‘’Daewoo working for shell has had two
major projects in Imiringi environment in recent times.
“The first one was a pipeline that heads
from Olugbo family land to part of Rivers State, and the second one is the
recent one they just ended last December at the gas gathering plant on my
family land.
“Yes I am aware that Daewoo operations
at the Olugbo family land caused a lot of damage to farmlands because they
blocked a lot of natural water ways.
“Till date those blocked natural water ways
and creeks are still blocked’’. Afagha said.
Also
Environmental Rights Action (ERA) said in its field report on the incident that
oil and gas exploration operation actually caused negative environmental
impact.
According to
the report signed by Mr Alagoa Morris, ERA’s head of Field Operations, creating
a canal and deliberately blocking several natural water channels in the
environment had distorted the natural ecosystem.
The NGO
stated that reaction of victims shows clearly that the issue is a matter of
survival and defense of their environmental rights as contained in Article 24
of African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Mr Bamidele
Odugbesan, Media Relations Manager, Shell Petroleum Development Company is yet
to respond to requests for reaction on the development.
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