Protecting the environment,
democratizing development

Protecting the environment, democratizing development

Environmental Rights Action RSS Field

NARRATIVE FIELD REPORT: Crude Oil Spill From Agip’s Tebidaba/Ogboinbiri Pipeline Left Swamps Flooded

Location: Ondewari and Okpotuwari environment. The month of the current incident: June 2023

Date of a field visit by ERA/FoEN: 27th July 2023 [Thursday]

INTRODUCTION:

Ondewari and Okpotuwari are communities in Olodiama clan, in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State; separated by the Ossiama Creek. They are located directly opposite each other but shares land on both sides of Ossiama Creek. The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria [ERA/FoEN] has repeatedly documented oil spill-related incidents along this Tebidaba/Ogboinbiri pipeline in the environment since April 2008. Available Joint Investigation Visit [JIV] reports indicate that the types of spill incidents so recorded by ERA/FoEN were attributed to either Equipment Failure or Third Party Interference. However, the cause of the spill sometimes ended in disagreement between community representatives and the other stakeholders; regulators and Nigerian Agip Oil Company [NAOC].

Apart from oil spill incidents, ERA/FoEN has followed up and reported improper cleanup of oil spill-impacted sites over the years. Oftentimes, as documented by ERA/FoEN; spill-impacted sites are set ablaze, resulting in further destruction of the ecosystem and livelihood of the people. If a scientific investigation is carried out in this pipeline adjoining environment within Ondewari and Okpotuwari environment; results would show clearly that previous oil spill sites were not properly cleaned up by Agip. At best, apart from setting spill-impacted sites on fire; a negligible level of recovery is often done. And, that is all. Experiences have shown that many regulators never return to the site to find out whether spill-impacted sites were properly cleaned or remediated.

It is interesting to note that locals rely on their environment for fishing and farming. And, the swamps are particularly significant in this regard for fish ponds and flood-time fishing.

INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT:

When information about the recent oil spill got to ERA/FoEN around 20th June 2023, it was not given much attention; especially as the activities of bush refinery operators had become uncomfortably rife in the area. Incidentally, the private surveillance contractors going after these economic saboteurs were in such manners that had led to more crude oil spreading in the swamps. It was also expected that, as all spills require cleanup; the Federal Government and the oil company should proceed promptly to effect cleanup of all impacted sites no matter the cause of the spill.

But an indigene of Ondewari reached out to ERA/FoEN on the phone regarding this incident. According to him, I am also working with the private surveillance team. But I am calling you because I am not comfortable with what is going on. There is a particular oil spill in the environment that was actually caused by equipment failure but they have attributed it to sabotage. This is disturbing, very bad.’’

ERA/FoEN decided to once again visit this environment which is identified by locals as Tunye and Kalaubaye bushes to observe the current state of the environment.

Confirming the incident, the Community Development Committee [CDC] Chairman of Ondewari community said ” Yes, a very large part of the swamp around Tunye and Kalaubaye bushes have been seriously flooded by crude oil. The volume of crude oil is much. Although there have been other spill incidents caused when the private surveillance team goes after local refinery operators, it is difficult to attribute this to equipment failure because of the activities of local refiners in the bush. We went for JIV but after making us sign the JIV report, they went away with the report without giving us a copy. There is a lady from Ondewari known for her unrivaled flood season crayfish catch, Madam Ditimi Keke,  these incessant oil spills pose a great challenge to community folks like her. And we are just going into the flood season; a period when these women make so much catch to sell and take care of themselves and support their families. Other fellow community folks whose fish ponds and farmlands are in that environment are all very uncomfortable presently due to the negative impacts of the crude oil in the environment. And, as we speak, it is spreading more in the swampy environment.’’

There are indications that some individuals from both communities [Ondewari and Okpotuwari] are part of these local refinery activities attracting the Private Surveillance team in the company of security operatives to invade the environment and destroy camps used by operators. But, according to the CDC Chairman of Ondewari “Persons from other neighbouring communities also come to open points of crude oil for refining in the environment away from the pipeline. Another thing is that, because the swamps are connected, rain aids the crude oil to spread in the swamps. That’s the truth. Communities are not part of the security arrangement and so, community leadership is not as committed as individuals who are engaged in the surveillance contract. If communities are officially engaged, things might have been different.

Communities should be made stakeholders in this oil business’’…he said.

OBSERVATION/CONCLUSION:

Apart from deaths and serious injuries sustained at local refinery camps, it is common knowledge that environments, where these activities are ongoing, suffer so much land, water, and air pollution. While the land and water [including swamps and creeks] would be largely polluted from raw crude oil and refined products; air pollution happens from the process of refining and destruction of camps by security operatives and private surveillance teams by burning, sending thick columns of dark smoke towering in the atmosphere before scattering far in the air and descending through dew. This is as bad, if not worse; than gas flaring; with serious health and livelihood implications.

There is no known conference or public gathering of stakeholders organized by the Federal government or oil companies with a view to openly talking about the issues associated with oil bunkering and local refining of crude oil. Sadly, it is evident that the Federal government and oil companies are more interested in quantities of crude oil getting to export terminals and not amounts spilled and devastating community environments. This is why neither the government nor oil companies are bothered about the state of the environment and, in most cases; don’t clean up at all no matter the volume of crude oil in the environment. This has continued to have a negative impact on ecosystems and the health of the locals; as they drink, eat, and breathe crude oil.

No matter the cause of the spill, facility owners should be responsible for the cleanup of the impacted environment unless they put adequate measures in place to forestall it from happening. Unfortunately, the current measures in place lack adequacy in dealing with economic saboteurs and environmental terrorists in the Niger Delta. As we know, crude oil spills left unattended promptly affect the fauna and flora; besides its evaporation and soil percolation, the natural essence of the environment would be lost.

The oil industry regulators, who often visit spill sites with facility owners for JIV cannot feign ignorance of how crude oil impacted sites are left uncleaned and, if attempts were made; not properly cleanup and remediated. Considering the history of the oil industry in the country. So, as much as the government and oil companies should take the blame for all of this; only a holistic approach to this nagging and environmentally devastating issue would be good enough. The alleged aiding and abetting of the crime by security operatives should be part of the holistic approach toward bringing this to a halt.

ERA/FoEN DEMAND:

[1] The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency [NOSDRA] needs to rise up to the challenging situation. NOSDRA shouldn’t know about oil spills and do nothing thereafter. Herein lies the need to RESPOND, after detection.

[2] The Federal Ministry of Environment should take the lead since NOSDRA is under the ministry. Federal Government should make adequate budgetary provisions for the Ministry and NOSDRA to meet the much-needed assignment in the Niger Delta and anywhere in the country.

[3] The Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment shouldn’t be comfortable with the state of our environment; especially as regards oil industry-induced pollution. While there is an obvious need for the State Government to also make adequate budgetary provisions for the State Ministry of Environment, for adequate documentation and follow-up of the state of each spill site; the ministry should do more to protect our environment.

[4] NOSDRA and the State Ministry of Environment should bridge the lacuna between private surveillance contractors and themselves; especially in the area of information sharing as per locations of camps destroyed leaving crude oil spreading in the environment.

[5] Oil companies, and in this particular case, NOAC; should own up to the responsibility of mopping up, cleaning up, and following up with remediation of such a major oil spill-impacted environment.

[6] All stakeholders, including the CSOs/NGOs, media, Ijaw National Congress [INC], and Ijaw Youth Council [IYC] should take an active position in following up with steps geared towards drastic reduction in the ongoing bush refining activities that are further destroying our environment.

Related Articles