BY PATRICK MGBODO/ EBI NIEKETIEN /KASE GREATNESS
THE Delta State Government, yesterday, said it would impose penalties on Conoil and other oil companies operating in the state over ongoing oil spills that have caused severe environmental damage and posed health risks to host communities.
This was revealed by the state Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ejiro Jamani, in an interview with The Pointer, yesterday.
According to him, the Delta State Ministry of Environment has received petitions from different host communities about the ongoing spillage in riverine areas.
He disclosed that the oil spills have contaminated vital water sources and severely impacted the livelihoods of residents.
He acknowledged that some of the oil spills were caused by third-party vandals, equipment failures and in some cases, deliberate actions by the companies themselves.
“We have received numerous petitions from various communities regarding these actions by oil companies. The situation is heart-breaking as these riverine communities depend solely on water for survival,” Jamani said.
“I got a petition from a community in Warri South Local Government Area about a Conoil facility. I and the local government chairman went there to see things for ourselves. The magnitude of the spill was enormous. The river was like the crude oil itself. Once you scoop water, it was as if you were scooping crude oil. From our findings, we discovered that it was caused by a facility failure. And since the 20th of November till date, they have not cleaned-up the oil spill.
“There ought to be a joint investigation visit. The Ministry of Environment, the host community and the company will go together and see things for themselves. The reason for that visit was to know the cause of the spill and everyone would come out so it could be settled.
‘’But up tilltoday they have not done it. They have only provided water only once. I invited them and told them to provide water and palliative for the community because the spill has damaged the water they rely on for survival
‘’Under the Delta State Ecology Law of 2006, oil companies are required to pay the state government two million naira per day for each day an oil spill remains unaddressed beyond 24 hours. With the spill having occurred nearly four months ago, Conoil is now indebted to the government for the ton of about N200 million “
“We will not let them get away with this. I have had a meeting with them. The people are crying every day. They should come and do clean up so they can go back to their businesses. Some of these companies do not respect government when it comes to spillage”.
‘’If they are getting away with their excess before they are not getting away this time. I wrote to them and told them that failure to comply with the state government’s law, would go straight to litigation. The law is there and it isgoing to speak for itself.”
He noted that the state government was determined to take strong actions to ensure the protection of the state’s environment and the well-being of its communities.
