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Oil leak: Agip, host community plan joint visit to spill site in Bayelsa

By on September 19, 2013

The Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and members of Ikeinghenbiri community, Southern Ijaw Local government in Bayelsa have scheduled a joint visit to an oil spill site in the area.

It was gathered that the oil leak was discovered on Monday by a woman who was returning from a fishing expedition.

Mr Marshall Josiah, the Chairman of Community Development Committee in Ikeinghenbiri, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that the oil firm had been informed of the incident.

“The spill was reported to Agip officials as soon as it was discovered on Monday and as we speak, the spill is still going on.

“We have been notified by the management of Agip that they will be convening a joint investigative visit to the spill site.

“This visit will enable us to take stock of the damages done to our environment.

“Our fishermen were compelled to suspend fishing because the whole creeks and swamps were contaminated and today, we can only depend on imported frozen fish.

“It is a strange thing for us as a fishing community to be buying frozen fish when we are supposed to be selling fish to others.

“We need relief and appeal to government to look into our plight.”

A NAN correspondent who visited the site reports that the oil spill which occurred within Brass Swamp Area of NOAC’s oil field, is currently discharging crude into the water bodies.

It was gathered that the oil leak emanated from an underwater valve at the oil firm’s pipeline network in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

Crude oil was seen floating on the surrounding waters near the spill site. (NAN)