Nigeria House of Representatives To Investigate Agip Over Incessant Oil Spillage

Teddy Oscar, Abuja

The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the Nigerian Agip Oil Company with a view to unravel the causes of incessant spillage and displacement of communities in Bayelsa State.

To this end, the committees on Environment, Oil and Gas Upstream, which have been charged with the investigation, have been further tasked to ensure that Agip abides by all laws guiding its operations in the country, through the enforcement of the offences and punishment provision in the Oil and Gas Regulations.

The committees are expected to, among other things, to ensure that communities affected by oil spillages must be timely and adequately compensated based on Total Economic Value (TEV), and in line with international best practices; that massive and comprehensive cleaning of the environment must be done in consonance with existing laws and international best practices; and that NEMA, through its agencies, must provide relief materials for affected communities.

These were the outcome of a motion moved by Hon. Stella Dorgu under matters of public importance pursuant to Order VIII, Rule 46 of the House, and entitled: Incessant oil spillage and displacement of communities in Bayelsa State.

Dorgu had noted the loss of farmlands, polluted water sources, and displacement of a lot of indigenes, following an oil spillage at Ikoroha community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State from a facility owned by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company on March 21, 2014.

“The House sadly notes that rivers and farmlands in Ikarama community have been devastated by oil spill. Economic trees, crops and aquatic lives have been lost. Health has been jeopardised. The financial, environmental, social and health toll cannot be quantified.

“The House further notes that on the 21st November, 2013, there was an oil spill from Rumuekpe crude delivery line at the same Ikarama community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa,with an equally devastating effect on livelihood and displacement of people.

“The House equally notes that on August 27th, 2013, in Okpoama and Odiama communities, an estimated 224.55 barrels of crude was spilled from the SBM SIRIUS (off shore brass) facility of the same Agip company. The environmental and ecological impact was not only on the indigenes but on aquatic life.

“The House is aware that on February 7th 2014, a leakage from Agip’s Idu Well 3, located in Egbebiri area of Biseni in Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, caused another spill. Huge volumes of crude were discharged into the environment.

“Painfully, this particular spill and leakage, which was gaseous, liquefied and settled on the ground. The pungent odour of the gaseous discharge led to the forceful ejection of road construction workers from site, because the environment was unsafe and hazardous to health.

“The House is also aware that on February 17th 2014, there was an oil spillage in Izagara and Agum clans of Okoroba community of Nembe Local Government Area, Bayelsa State also from Nigerian Agip Oil Company pipeline. This led to the displacement of indigenes. Investigation reveals that the oil firm is yet to replace oil pipelines which were laid at Okoroba over 42 years ago.

“The House, therefore, queries why there have been so many oil spills by this one oil company. Why have old and outdated pipelines continued to be used, why are communities left to fend for themselves without timely and adequate response from this oil companies?

“The House is worried that the rate of oil spillage in Nigeria is on a continuous ascending spiral. According to the Shell Report 2014, in the first quarter of this year alone, 42 spills have been recorded, 13 in January, 11 in February and 18 in March. How many more will occur by the end of 2014? How much more hardship, dislocation and loss of livelihood can the people endure?

“The House is concerned that in spite of the oil spill conferences, public/stakeholders meetings that have been held, communities have not been positively impacted, by adequate response to ameliorate their hardships,” she moved.

The House resolved that although some of the oil spills are attributed to pipeline vandalism, old and outdated pipelines must be replaced in line with Regulation 9 of Oil and Gas Regulations 1995.

In his ruling on the motion, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who presided the affairs of the plenary on the floor of the Green Chambers, referred the motion to the committees for further legislative action.