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Oil spill from AGIP facility pollutes communities in Bayelsa

"Tell me, which fish can survive here?"

Watch the slideshow on the oil spill in Ogbunugbene and the surrounding area.

October 2010: Ogbunugbene is an Osiama Community in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and like most of its neighbours the community is settled along the Osiama Creek/River. Agip's oil pipeline also traverses the community environment, linking the Ogboinbiri Flow Station. It is a small settlement of Ijaw people whose major economic activity is fishing, farming and hunting.

Environmental Rights Action (ERA) field monitors decided to visit the area following serious complaints from neighbouring communities that that oil spill from Ogbunugbene has severely polluted their environment. The spill is said to have started at the end of August but ERA monitors could only get to the area in October.

ERA's visit confirmed that the thick oil slick has spread beyond the immediate environment of Ogbunugbene to the common swamp from which these other communities went about their means of livelihood before the spill. These people relied heavily on fishing as a means of sustenance and liveihood, as you can see from their testimonies below:

Local resident Mr. Keke

"We have not actually gained anything from this oil under our soil which the companies have brought to the surface. Agip should remove their oil pipelines from our environment let us remain like our fathers. Not long ago we lost our palm wine tapping camps and ponds because of oil spill. Now again, see the thickness of the crude oil on top of the water. Tell me, which fish can survive here? And unless something is done urgently before the flood water recedes, this impacted environment might catch fire. If that happens, then we are sure that the destruction will be more than we have suffered in recent times."

H.R.H.Emmanual Kokorifa [paramount ruler of Okpotuwari]

"The impact this will have on the community in terms of livelihood is better imagined. We have also experienced oil spills in recent times from ruptures on Agip pipeline within our own community environment. We have not even come out from the shock and loss from these ones that happened within our land. We cannot continue to suffer like this. How can we expect anything from impacted swamp again? We engage in fishing, farming, logging and hunting from that impacted area. Now what do we do?"

MRS SINDIO ALASUO [from Ondewari Community]

“You saw the thickness of the crude oil on the water. We have abandoned that area for now; what are we going there for again? Nothing at all. If nothing is done by the company until when the flood will begin to recede, the oil slick will come out to the main river too. Now it is settled and spreading only in the swamp because the water from the river is still rushing in through the rivulets. We are suffering too much from these oil spills. And, we cannot leave our environment to go and fish, farm or hunt in other people’s environment. That is why it is very painful”

Mrs. Profit Ebiki

“…. We have seen too much of oil spills affecting our environment in recent times and, the situation is overwhelming. The swamps and other parts of the bush are the areas from which we earn our living from fishing and farming. We also hunt for snails and other animals in the bush as not everybody can afford to dive and obtain water snail as some of our youths do. I don’t know exactly how to put my words to get the desired effect from government or Agip. But, it is most desirable that something is done to clean up the impacted swamps.”