OML 29 Mega oil spill: Kalabari Communities kick, issue ultimatum

The Kalabari Frontiers, a Pan Ijaw Ethnic Organization, has condemned the alleged neglect of people living in Owuangain Communities in Kula, Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, over a month after a mega oil spill occured in OML 29, WELL 1.

At a world press conference in Port Harcourt the Rivers State capital, on December 15, the group said the oil spill is “succinctly an ecological disaster to the Kalabari largest coastal wetland, hence the tremendous damage that can be caused by limited amount of it cannot be overemphasized.

“The OML 29, WELL 1, oil spill has indeed, generated a number of effects on the environment and economy of the Kalabari people. On a basic level, the oil spill has ruined and damaged waterways, fishing implements (or canoes, paddles and nets), marine lives and mangrove plants and animals on the marshy islands.

“Wild lives are deceased and washed ashore. Black oil now infiltrates our Creeks, Seas, Rivers, Oceans and water wells, which is the only source of drinkable water that has caused skin diseases and other concomitant illnesses on the people.”

They expressed concern that despite these devastating effects of the oil spill on her people, the Federal Government and AITEO Eastern Exploration and Production Limited have not taken “any positive bold step(s) to visit the Owuangain Communities in Kula, where the oil spill actually occured, as on the spot assessment and facilitate relief materials to the affected Victims of the Communities, its environs, Kula Community and the entire Kalabari Kingdom.

“This display is the worst form of insensitivity and mindless disregard to the plights of the people of Owuangain Communities and Kula Community who are directly feeling the impacts of the degradation and the Kalabari Kingdom in general.

“Rather, to our utter dismay, local cleanup crews have been quickly put in action to respond to the oil spill that merely travelled in ocean currents to the Basambiri/ Opu-Nembe Creek axis of Bayelsa State, without considering the Kalabari axis where the oil spill actually occured.

” Consequently, the AITEO company had already sent relief materials to the Basambiri/Opu-Nembe Communities at the Minister of State for petroleum’s instance without putting into cognizance the pains, hardship and loss of livelihood of the Owuangain Communities in Rivers State, which are the host Communities of OML 29, WELL 1. This gross injustice is highly condemnable and totally unacceptable.

The press statement signed jointly by HRH Tubotamuno Dick Esq, Chief Flag Amachree, Alabo Kingsley Young-Jack, Engr. Ineye Jack, Hon. Japusoibina Ekine and Comrade Edward Asikitamunoprim, further reads in part: “As a matter of fact, the entire world expects Nigerian Government together with the management of AITEO company to addressing the daunting challenges of the day by liaising with the Rivers State Government to put an end to this grave injustice and insensitivity meted on us (i.e. The Kalabari People).

“We are very hopeful that with such strong commitment and united leadership, both governments and AITEO management can make a great success in bringing us out from this doldrum. Therefore, we count on their supports and cooperation to do the needful.

“In view of the above, we are further reiterating our demand in very strong term that the environmental damage caused by the blowout is immediately remediated otherwise, the Communities will seek legal opinions to press these legitimate demands.

“This is because, the oil spill had spread over a number of miles reaching the entire Kalabari Community coastlines from the shores of Santa Barbara River (Owuangain Toru) to St. Bartholomew River, Sonbreiro River, Cawthorne Channel (Kalabari Toru) and far beyond.

“As the oil continues to migrate, a sustained effort by the oil company is spontaneously needed for the cleanup as the area of spread also steadily expands.

“Therefore, urgent remediation of our marine and ecological environments is commenced, adequate compensations are given to the affected Communities and relief materials sent to the host Communities of Owuangain, Kula Community, all affected fishing settlements and other impacted Kalabari Communities in Kalabari Kingdom.”