The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency
(NOSDRA) says the two leaks from Agip's oilfields in Southern Ijaw and Brass Local Government
Areas (LGAs) were caused by equipment failure.
Mr Idris Musa, Director-General of NOSDRA confirmed the
development on Saturday.
According to the D-G officials of the spill agency
conducted a Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) to Agips 10" Cough
creek-Tebidaba pipeline at Ologbobiri in Southern Ijaw LGA and found the cause
to be equipment failure.
Musa said that officials of the agency also visited the
24" Ogoda-Brass trunk line site at Okpoama in Brass where a leak
discharged a yet-to-be ascertained volume of crude oil into the environment.
The people of Okpoama in the Brass LGA have sent a 'save
our soul message' to the Federal Government of Nigeria following widespread
pollution by the oil spill incident in the area.
It was gathered that the oil spill occurred two weeks ago
on the 24-inches Ogoda-Brass crude oil trunk line operated by the Nigerian Agip
Oil Company.
The Chairman of the Okpoama Kingdom Oil and Gas Committe,
Percy Jerry Wemi-Kwomain, said that the incident happened at the Amangaetima
bush near Ewoama-Brass.
"The oil
spill occurred two weeks ago and it has discharged enormous amount of crude oil
into the adjourning creeks and rivulets, thereby affecting the environment and
the livelihood of the people of the area." Wemi-Kwomain said.
According to him, the NAOC made two attempts secretly to
fix the leaking pipeline without the usual Joint Investigation Visit (JIV)
conducted by the relevant authorities concerned.
He said the efforts were twarted by youths placed on
surveillance in the area.
“Without letting us know they came with a swamp-buggy to
fix the leaking point. We stopped them twice before they came to inform us that
they want us to join them for the JIV.
"The oil is still leaking, that was why we have sent
SOS to the Federal Government to come to our aid", Kwomain added.
The community leader further noted that the high pressure
pipeline was built sine 1972 and had recorded failure in several points.
Reacting on the disagreement between Agip and its host
communities, the NOSDRA D-G told NAN that the JIV was done and concluded
amicably.
"The host community wanted to be paid a fee before
repairs. That was the source of the disagreement, but the matter was later
resolved," Musa said.
Officials of Agip declined comments on the two incidents
and efforts they have made to mitigate the pollution
No comments:
Post a Comment