INDIGENES of Agwetiti community in Ndokwa East Local Area of Delta State, have called on Nigeria Agip Oil Company Limited to mobilise and distribute relief materials in areas affected by oil spill.
Recall that recently, oil spill polluted waters, lands, and disrupted economic activity in Agwetiti community, hence the call for relief materials.
Speaking to newsmen, President General/CDC Chairman Agwetiti Community, Chief Charles Olisa, stated that for over two weeks since the waters and lands of our community, Agwetiti, got polluted by oil spillage resulting from equipment failure of Agip Company facilities, the company have kept quiet over the plights of the people and have also failed to do the needful in line with global best practices and good conscience.”
Olisa said that “a world class company like Agip with de cades of industry experience and run by experts chose to behave this way is shocking, disturbing and painful. Their action is condemnable, reprehensible.”
Lamenting further, he said that the spillage has adversely affected the environment and increased the level of poverty in the community, taking a great toll on the physical and mental health, as well as the occupational mobility of the people. Members of the community are unable to access water for drinking and domestic activities, and their farmlands have been damaged.
Till this moment, the crude could be seen flowing downstream along the Niger, destroying aquatic lives in the process. The spill is massive and devastating, with the attendant offensive stench becoming unbearable.”
“For the people of Agwetiti community whose existence revolves around the marine environment and their soils being that they are all farmers and fishermen, June 14, 2024 is a date they will never forget because it was the day their woes were compounded and their existence hanging in the balance. They have continued to wonder how to pick up the broken pieces of their lives. Their natural endowments which are supposed to be sources of blessings and relief have become a curse for no fault of theirs.” He said.
