Pipeline host communities in the Gbaramatu Kingdom of Warri South-West local government area of Delta State have demanded that the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company Limited (NPSC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), conclude the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV), compensate for damages, and clean up their polluted environment.
They also issued a seven-day ultimatum to the management to pay compensation for damages caused by an oil spill to their farmlands and other means of livelihood.
The aggrieved host communities, however, warned that failure to pay the compensation, they will visit the oil company with mass protests in the coming days.
According to the host communities, protesters shall be drawn from Oporoza, Okpele-Ama/Tebujor, Ikpokpo, Opuedebubo, Opuede, Atamba, Ogbotu, Okerenkokogbene, Gan-Ama Zion, Kala-Ikpokpo, Meike-Ama, Fia-Fia Zion and Oturu-ebagbene communities, in the Gbaramatu Kingdom, to occupy the corporate and operational offices of the firm which may likely disrupt oil workers activities in the area if their demands are not met within the stipulated time.
According to them, they have been engaging with the company and relevant regulatory agencies, including the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), to resolve the issue amicably.
This was contained in a letter addressed to the Managing Director of NPSC, through the host communities solicitor, Eric Omare and copied the Commander, JTF, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State; chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Environment; Delta State commissioners for oil and gas and for Environment; commissioner of police, commanding officer, Effurun Barracks; Director DSS, Asaba; Area Manager, NPSC, Ekpan-Warri; Zonal Head, NOSDRA, Effurun; DPOs of Ekpan, and NSCDC commandant.
It was signed on behalf of the Gbaramatu communities by Godwin Fibade (Oporoza), Lucky Bebenimibo (Okpele-Ama/Tebujor), Elisah Odudu (Ikpokpo), Theophilus Emotimide (Opuedebubo), Mackson Ode (Opuede) and other leaders.
The seven-day ultimatum, according to Omare, is seen as a last resort by the communities to push the company to take responsibility for the damage caused by the oil spill.
“Officials of your company on 02/09/2024 and 18/11/ 2024, together with representatives of NOSDRA visited the site of the spillage. However, a conclusion could not be reached because of the unpreparedness of your company to open up the point of spillage as agreed by all the parties concerned.
“Arising from these visits, an appeal was made to the communities’ representatives to allow the process of the JIV and the subsequent steps relating to the payment of compensation and clean up to be done within the shortest possible time, not more than seven days.
“However, more than a month after these visits, your company has refused, neglected/failed to follow due process by concluding the JIV, pay compensation for damages and clean up the polluted environment.
“In the light of the foregoing, your company is hereby given seven days ultimatum from Wednesday, 11/12/2024 to conclude the JIV, pay compensation for the damages caused by the August 10, 2024 oil spillage and clean up the damaged environment.
“Take notice that should you fail to yield to this demand within the stipulated period, we shall resort to all available means to ensure that our demands are met, including staging protests at your corporate and operational offices,” the letter stated.