According the report signed by Mr Alagoa Morris, Head of Field Operations at ERA/FoEN, the oil firm was yet to commence remediation efforts more than two weeks after the [oil spill] incident occurred.
Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has berated Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) for poor response to reported oil spill incident at the oil firm’s field in Bayelsa.
ERA/FoEN, an environmental rights group, in its field report on the oil spill incident dated January 28 noted on Wednesday that the spill occurred on January 12.
The oil field operated by Agip is located in Kalaba Community, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
According the report signed by Mr Alagoa Morris, Head of Field Operations at ERA/FoEN, the oil firm was yet to commence remediation efforts more than two weeks after the incident occurred.
ERA/FoEN regretted that no steps have been taken by the oil firm operating the oil field to stop the discharge of crude oil and gas into the environment, despite the dire environmental impact.
It noted that the adjourning farmlands and surrounding areas have been polluted by the continued discharge of oil and chemicals into the area.
“Agip should take immediate steps to stop the spill by going to site and effect clamping after JIV.
“Agip should take all necessary steps to prevent such delays in responding to spill incidents; especially when there is no security or accessibility issues.
“Agip should ensure steps are taken for the immediate clean-up of impacted environment,” ERA/FoEN stated.
In an email response on Mr Filipo Cotalini, Media Relations Office Manager at Eni, which operates in Nigeria as NAOC said the Italian energy firm was investigating the incident.
Cotalini said the firm will issue a statement in due course.