Samuel Oyadongha
6 January 2009
An oil spill has been reported in Nembe local government area of Bayelsa State impacting on several communities in the area.
Although the immediate cause of the spill said to have impacted several communities in the Nembe axis of the state could not be ascertained but Vanguard gathered that the spill occurred last week at a major feeder along Akiplai-Obama Agip Trunk line. owned by the subsidiary of the Italian Eni Group, Nigerian Agip Oil Company.
Worst affected are Kiminimi, Igbabupiri, Obiama, Sabatoru as well as Igbeta-Ewoama, Okokokiri, Burikiri and surrounding Nembe fishing settlements.
The Nembe chiefs" council and leaders of the affected communities including the various youth bodies while conducting newsmen round the areas lamented over the development.
They described the spill as the worst in recent times stressing that it has impacted negatively on the ecosystem and causing untold hardship to the inhabitants as their only source of livelihood has been destroyed.
Speaking on the development, the paramount ruler of Kiminimi community, Chief Ibolanyo Itari-Igbeta expressed dismay at the extent of damage the spill has caused the people of the area, especially hunters, fishermen and women.
He however frowned at the company insensitivity to the host community"s plight and urged the oil giant to take proactive action check the occurrence of such incidents in future.
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