Francis Sadhere
An oil spill has ravaged Benikrukru Community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, with a call on the National Oil Spill Detection and Respond Agency, (NOSDRA0) to compel Chevron Nigeria Limited to come to the aid of the community.
Mr. Victor Eseimieghan, Chairman of Benikrukru community told newsmen in Warri that the oil spill which he said has ravaged the community occurred April 13, 2014 and all efforts to get Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) to come to the rescue of the community has proved abortive.
He claimed that no fewer than 500 barrels of oil were spilled and implored the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA to wade into the matter.
He said, “An oil spill from Chevron facility is currently ravaging our community. The location of the facility is Abeteye-Escravos 18” pipeline at Saghara II creek in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta. Our fishermen and women have been rendered jobless and Chevron has refused to act on the matter since a Joint Investigation, JIV was conducted.
According to him, while members of the community were still waiting endlessly for Chevron to comply with an earlier oil spill; “There is yet another spill at Abeteye-Escravos 18” pipeline Saghara II creek on 13 April, 2014. The JIV was carried out on the 14th April 2014 and Chevron admitted liability and agreed to have a spill of over 30 barrels of crude oil. The yardstick for determination of the actual quantity spilled is only known to them. The entire environment is covered with crude oil and aquatic life has come to a standstill.”
“To show the insincerity amongst Chevron staff the trench dug outside the right way could convince any doubting Thomas how economical they are with the truth. For the avoidance of doubt, over 500 barrels are spilled within the environment. It is expected that the company should send relief materials to cushion the effect of the damage inflicted on the community and the inhabitants, but rather than doing that, they have insisted on carrying out clean-up and repairing their ruptured pipeline,” he said.
He added that affected communities of Bateren, Deghele and Benikrukru of Warri South-West Local Government Area wrote to inform chevron that no work should be done until they agree on the modalities to effect the needed relief materials and payment of all the outstanding compensation for 2008 and 2013, and “they have abandoned the site and cancelled the meeting scheduled with the communities on the 22nd of April meant to iron out the grey areas.”
According to him the company is damaging the environment and oil is still leaking into the vegetation of the affected communities and called on NOSDRA to enforce the Act establishing it, especially the duty and authority to intervene and remedy “the quagmire now woven by Chevron, the oil spiller, to frustrate the affected communities.”
