Local residents are worried about the possible harm to the environment and public health that could result from the leak, and are calling for swift action to mitigate its impact and prevent further damage.
Residents of Olugboboro community in Bayelsa State's Southern Ijaw local government area are protesting a leak in the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) pipeline in their area, which is causing crude oil to spill into the environment.
Local residents are worried about the possible harm to the environment and public health that could result from the leak, and are calling for swift action to mitigate its impact and prevent further damage.
The pipeline rupture, which occurred about two months ago along the Ogboinbiri/Tebitada pipeline, resulted in spillage, according to the Olugboboro community.
They claim that equipment failure caused the incident, which has had devastating effects on the environment and their daily lives.
Some leaders of the Olugboboro community, Chief Azeke Matthew Akpowari, Chief Ebimobowei Kenbo Ipkesiware and Assistant Secretary General, Amos Oweifighe, in a letter to the Bayelsa State Government called for urgent intervention to stop the oil spill.
The letter reads, "We wish to register our utter displeasure and intimate you of the inaction of Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, to the oil spillage that occurred in a pipeline operated by the company, at Olugboboro community in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa state.
"The spillage occurred about two months ago along Ogboinbiri/Tebitada pipeline when the pipeline ruptured which has been attributed to equipment failure.
“As a result, for about two months, crude oil has been gushing out from the pipeline, thereby devastating a large swath of farm lands, ponds, economic trees and lakes in the forest.
"It will be difficult to quantify the damage wreaked on the people's livelihood and the environment because of the huge quantities of crude oil spilled.
"It would be pertinent to note that Biedinobou where the equipment failure occurred is a major farming and fishing hub of the community. Hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude oil have been spilled since sometime in May this year when the pipeline ruptured; thereby turning farm lands, lakes and ponds into rivers of crude oil.
"Consequently, collateral damage has been done to farms, economic trees, ponds and lakes; which are the mainstay of the people in Biedinobou forest for the past two months since the pipeline began to seep crude oil to the environment. We are in a rainy season, it's aiding the fast spread of the spill to distance areas and rivers.”
According to the community, Agip has been informed about the incident.
The community, however, noted that “till date it has not made any attempt to contain the spillage from further polluting and degrading the environment".
It said, "Sir, we cannot comprehend why Agip has allowed the spill to continue to destroy the environment, given the negative implications of the pollution on the people's health, livelihood, animals, aquatic life and the general environment.
"The refusal of Agip to contain the spill has shown it's crass disregard to the plight of the people and the environment.
“In light of the above, we urge you to wade into the matter and we demand the following: Agip should mobilize to site immediately and contain the spill cleanup and rehabilitate the environment.
"Send relief materials and pay adequate compensation to the community to ameliorate their suffering.”