By Tejiri Ebikeme
Worried by the ravaging effect of alleged oil spills, the people of Tekedor-kusimi community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, have given a two-week ultimatum to the management of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NNPC) to clean up the persistent oil spills or be ready for tough time.
They claimed that the unending oil spills from NPDC facilities since 2oth January 2014 and two other occurrences within the year (2014) have impacted greatly on both human and aquatic lives in Tekedor-Kusimi, Odidi, Kantu, Eresegbene and Eweregbene Communities, all in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
Speaking to newsmen n Warri, leaders of the communities alleged that the people were now living in fears of outbreak of epidemic.
Chief Balogun Kpagwa, Chairman of Eweregbene community, Mr. Roland Douglas, Chairman of Eresegbene community, and Mr. Thomson Tekedor expressed worry over the effect of the persistent oil spills in their communities, saying that the people were now living dangerously.
While listing their demands to include; cleaning up of the polluted environment, relief materials, payment of ecological compensation and payment of special damages, the leaders of the communities said; “Right now, our people are moving out of the affected communities for fear of an imminent danger and they are now living like refugees in other places.”
“We have written series of letters to management of NPDC, but they remained insensitive to our plight. Though, we are peace loving people, but NPDC should not take us for granted. Our people are badly affected by the oil spills and they can no longer carry out their normal fishing activities and farming,” they lamented.
According to them also: “Since 20th January 2014, we have been experiencing oil spills and those at the helm of affairs at NPDC have not shown any sign of compensating us and cleaning up the polluted areas.”
While handing down two weeks ultimatum to management of the company within which to address their demands, the leaders of the affected communities made it clear that should the company fail to be reasonable, they would be left with no other option than to cripple its activities.
They said: “We will not hesitate to shut down the flow stations at the expiration of our ultimatum. We cannot be intimidated in our land by the use of security agents by NPDC. Our people have been turned into refugees in Warri and other places. We are therefore appealing to both the Federal and State Governments to prevail on the management of NPDC to do the needful now before it is too late. Enough is enough.”
But all efforts to reach management of NPDC for comment proved abortive.
