The Pipeline and Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) has appealed to the National Oil Spill and Detection Agency (NOSDRA) for patience over the oil spill in Oke-Warri in Delta.

PPMC's Spokesman, Mr Ralph Ugwu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos that PPMC would pay the N1 million fine to Oke-Warri Community immediately it concluded its investigations.

"We are aware that NOSDRA has directed PPMC to pay N1 million as damages to the affected community but PPMC is investigating the cause of the spillage.

"Until we conclude our investigation to authenticate the cause of the spillage and, we agree on what to do, I cannot tell you the position of the PPMC on the matter," Ugwu said.

He regretted the cause of the spillage, adding that the PPMC would communicate its findings to NOSDRA as soon it was through with the investigation.

Mr Henshaw Ogubike, Head, Public Affairs Dept, NOSDRA had told NAN that PPMC had failed to respond to it directive to pay a fine of N1 million for failing to clean up the oil spill in Oke-Warri.

Ogubike said that at the moment NOSDRA was not sure that the PPMC had paid the fine.

He said that the directive was ordered after a joint investigation visit (JIV) by all the parties, including PPMC, on June 9, 2009.

"NOSDRA in line with the provision of its enabling Act directed the PPMC to immediately contain, recover and clean up the impacted sites in the area.

"But the company failed to clean up the sites within a reasonable time, which is a contravention of Section 6(3) of the NOSDRA Act, hence NOSDRA penalised PPMC.

"The fine was supposed to be paid within 14 days from the date of the receipt of its letter but till now PPMC had not responded," he said.

NOSDRA urged the PPMC to exhibit the highest ethical standard expected of it as an establishment during its operations.

NAN