By Samuel Oyadongha
Yenagoa—The Bayelsa State Government, yesterday,
ordered Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, to temporarily shut down its facility
in Ayamabele and Kalaba communities in Orkordia clan of Yenagoa Local
Government Area of the state over rising cases of oil spills in the area.
It also announced the setting up of a rapid response team to
handle spills related cases in the communities.
According to the state Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Iniuro
Wills, the decision was to allow a special investigative team to tackle spills
in the state.
Wills said: “The grave consequences spillage portends for the
people and communities have necessitated the setting up of the team. Following
the recent gas spillage, which occurred on September 4, at a facility operated
by NAOC in the two communities, the ministry has asked the company to
temporarily shut down operations in the facility.”
Meanwhile, the state government has announced that a meeting
between the leadership of the impacted communities, the officials of the state
government and NAOC has been called to discuss the incidence of spillage with a
view to improving environmental standards in the state.
He said: “The Environment Ministry is determined to use the
recent Ayamabele and Kalaba gas spill to signal the start of the state
government’s programme of rapid and sustained environmental protection and
enforcement.”
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