OIL SPILLS...

..... DELTA STATE GOVT WADES INTO PROTEST BY INDIGENES OF GBARAMATU KINGDOM OVER ALLEGED OIL SPILLS BY CNL

Warri-

The Delta State Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Prince Emmanuel Amgbaduba has assured the people affected by the alleged Chevron Nigeria Limited oil spills in Gbaramatu Kingdom of Warri South West Local Government Area, of the readiness of the state government to resolve the issues amicably.

Prince Amgbaduba gave the assurance at the weekend when he led other government officials to wade into the oil spills issue which has led indigenes of the affected communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom protesting at the Chevron Abiteye and Otunana stations.

The first port of call by Prince Emmanuel Amgbaduba led team was Chevron Nigeria Limited, Abiteye field, where he listened to the plights of the protesters before going to the Chevron Utunana flow station to also hear the complaints of the people there.

The Oil and Gas Commissioner was accompanied on the visits by the state Commissioner for Environment, Pastor Chris Onogba, the member representing Warri South West Constituency at the Delta State House of Assembly, Honourable Emomotimi Guwor and the Warri South-West Council chairman, Hon Taiye Tuoyo, amongst others. 

Prince Amgbaduba after listening to the people said that the Delta State Government is very interested in resolving the issue hence the high powered delegation was assigned to come to meet with the people.

He told the protesters that he will write to the state government for relief materials and drugs to be sent to the affected communities.

The ministry according to him will call for a meeting where all the affected community leaders, management of Chevron Nigeria Limited and relevant government officials will sit and discuss ways of preventing such occurrence as well as address the demands of the effected oil producing communities.

For his part, the Commissioner for Environment, Pastor Chris Onogba debunked the rumour making the round that a report by the ministry of environment indicated that there were no oil spills, adding that he has come and seen for himself the degree of oil spills.

In the same vein, the member representing Warri South-West Constituency, Honourable Emomotimi Guwor, who addressed his people in both Ijaw and English languages appealed to them to go home with the assurance that the matter would be addressed.

Honourable Emomotimi Guwor appealed to the people to exercise patience as government is on top of the matter.

Speaking on behalf of the oil spills affected communities, Comrade Pedro Bekenawei, Chairman Kokodiagbene community and  Boan. Solomon Eris Odu the chairman Benikrukru community and others said that the oil spills have affected the ecosystem of the area as well as its aquatic life.

They alleged that Chevron Nigeria Limited has not been sensitive to their host communities in terms of job empowerment, and refusal to effectively carry out its cooperate social responsibility.

With the intervention by the Delta State Government, these protesters who have occupied Chevron facilities for two days earnestly await to see the clean up of the oil spills and serious attention given to their other demands.

Meanwhile, the management of Chevron Nigeria Limited CNL, operator of the joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation  and CNL has claimed knowledge of a report in the media and some communities about an alleged oil spill from Abiteye, Makaraba and  Utonana Fields in CNL’s western area of operations, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

CNL added that they have conducted investigated and continues to survey its Assets in the Abiteye and Utonana Fields including the 16” Makaraba-Utonana-Abiteye Right of Way ROW and confirms that there has not been any indication that the oil sheen on water is from its Assets in Abiteye, Makaraba and Utonana fields or from any other CNL facilities as alleged.