- They allege the use of unapproved dispersants, which they say worsened the environmental damage, impacting their livelihoods, water sources, and farm crops
Several riverine communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, have petitioned the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) over the alleged failure of the Nigerian Pipelines Storage Company Limited (NPSC) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to clean up a major oil spill in the area.
The communities are calling for sanctions and daily damages against the companies for their inaction following the spill on August 10, 2024.
In their petition, the communities claim that NPSC and NNPCL did not report the spill within the legally required 24 hours and repaired the spill site without conducting a joint investigation visit (JIV) or cleaning up the affected area. They allege the use of unapproved dispersants, which they say worsened the environmental damage, impacting their livelihoods, water sources, and farm crops.
The petition, signed by their counsel, Eric Omare, and community representatives, asserts that despite a public protest that led to a visit by NOSDRA and NPSC officials on September 2, 2024, the JIV has remained incomplete. This delay, they argue, has hindered efforts to assess the full extent of the damage and implement necessary remedial actions.
“Our clients can no longer fish to earn a living, and the water has been polluted by crude oil. The NPSC’s conduct violates sections of the NOSDRA Act, which require timely reporting and cleanup of oil spills,” the petition reads.
The communities are demanding that NPSC and NNPCL be sanctioned under the NOSDRA Act, which imposes daily fines for failure to report and clean up spills. They also seek compensation for the affected residents and a full cleanup of the impacted areas.
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