An Ijaw group based in New Jersey, United States of America, the Ijaw Diaspora Council (IDC), has demanded immediate reliefs to communities impacted by ongoing oil and gas leaks from an oilfield operated by Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company at Nembe in Bayelsa State.
The IDC sought an immediate deployment of appropriate technology to plug the oil well blow-out which had been discharging an estimated 100,000 barrels of crude into the waters for the past two weeks.
The demand is contained in a letter dated November 15, 2021 and signed by President, IDC, Prof. Monday Gold, Director of Community Outreach, Dr Festus Odubo, and Director of Conflict Resolution, Dr Brisibe Nabena.
The letter was addressed to Chief Executive of Aiteo Group, Mr Benedict Peters. Aiteo is an indigenous firm which operates Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29 following the 2015 Shell Petroleum Development Company divestment of the asset.
The IDC urged the oil firm to live up to its claim in the firm’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies and adopt best practices by providing a support fund of at least $500,000 to the impacted settlements.
The IDC said: “We urge the oil company to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life for our workforce and their families, as well as the local community and society as a whole. We are responsible stewards of the earth.”
The group noted that it was acting on information of its members, particularly those from Nembe LGA extraction directly affected by the Aiteo spill.
The letter read in part: “Aiteo must promptly plug the blow-out, as required by Nigerian law, and retain the failed Christmas Tree structure atop the wellhead for future independent analysis to ascertain the source of the failure.
“Aiteo must immediately deploy sufficient oil spill containment and cleanup equipment and personnel to contain and collect as much of the spilled hydrocarbon pollutant as possible, as required by Nigeria law, and hire as many local community members as possible.
“This is clearly a Tier III oil spill (the largest category) and Aiteo should contract local and international experts such as Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) in Southampton UK or other experts to conduct a large-scale Tier III spill response.
“Aiteo must provide immediate, interim response funding directed by Aiteo to the affected Ijaw people of at least $500,000, to be used by the affected people to support their initial sustenance in response to the spill.
“This initial funding will in no way prejudice future claims for compensation for the spill and will allow local Ijaw people to purchase alternative food resources during the spill.
“Contaminated fish from the spill area cannot be consumed; purchase Personal Protective Equipment. This response fund is not to be directed to IDC but to the affected communities.”
The group further requested that Aiteo should support and cooperate with IDC’s technical advisor to join the official Joint Investigation Team (JIT).
The IDC urged Aiteo to immediately commission an independent, scientific, environmental damage assessment by a credible, independent scientific institution.
It was, however, learnt that Aiteo had at the weekend donated four truck loads of relief materials comprising food items such as rice, garri, yams, beans, plantain, bottled water and other sundry items for medical facilities in the area.
