The Dutch Ambassador, Mr Robert Petri, on Tuesday visited Ikarama and Kalabar communities in Bayelsa hosting oilfields operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
The envoy pledged to mediate and improve the relations between the oil community and the Dutch oil firm Royal Shell, parent company of SPDC over pollutions and neglect of social obligations.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Ambassador was accompanied by Mr Chelsey Buurman, Second Secretary at the Embassy of the Netherlands in Abuja.
The diplomats were led on the trip by Mr Alagoa Morris, an Environmentalist and Head of Field Operations in Niger Delta at Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria.
Speaking shortly after visiting an oil spill impacted site in Ikarama, the Ambassador said: “It is an honour and a pleasure to be received today in this community.
“I am very happy that we can have exchange of views here. I have come here to see with my own eyes the situation in this community.
“So I hope we can exchange information and viewpoints on an informal basis so that I can be properly informed as I go back to Abuja. So, I’m all ears and eyes and to hear from you.
“I have already heard something but would like to hear more; I think it is also important. Maybe you can give your personal experiences. Let’s take it from there,’’ Petri said.
Chief Francis Kolibo, the Paramount ruler of Kalaba, said that the community lauded the ambassador and his entourage for the visit.
“Recently an oil spill occurred at Ikarama, on June 12, 2018 and during this year’s flood; the flood transferred the crude oil to our environment. We promptly wrote to the Ministry of Environment.
“But up till this minute they have not come to see what has happened. Crops harvested from the impacted environment get rotten.
“That is the problem. Shell has not provided water for us. If you take a look at the water flowing in the Taylor Creek, the water is undrinkable.
“But there is nothing we can do; we just drink from it as there is no alternative source. So, those are some of our problems,’’ the monarch said.
Leaders in the area, Samuel Oburo, Chairman, Community Development Committee; Mrs Gold Ogbolosingha, Women Leader; Mr Benjamin Warder, Youth President of Ikarama amongst others took turns to table their challenges to the envoy.
Also Chief Washington Odoyibo, who spoke on the allegation that the people engage in pipeline vandalism absolved the communities of complicity.
He alleged that the sabotage was perpetrated by oil workers engaged by SPDC in oilfields in the area.
“It is Shell staff, their contract staff; all these contractors you are seeing here in Ikarama environment, the companies are owned by Shell staff.
“When oil spills don’t occur for a good period of time in our environment or some other community, they would try to go into those communities and meet some boys.
“When spill occur we know what we pass through. ERA has taught me a lot about the negative impacts so I refused. I said, ‘No I can’t do it’’. I came back home.
“Within five days after, oil spill occurred in this area.
”So those are the things they are doing, especially the Community Liaison Officers and the contractors so that they will be given clean up, oil recovery and pipeline fixing jobs,’’ Odoyibo said.
Meanwhile reacting to this allegations, Mr Bamidele Odugbesan, Media Relations Manager at SPDC, said the oil firm does not tolerate leaks.
“We remain committed to our Goal Zero which means Zero Leak and Zero harm to people and environment. Our staff and contractors are bound by this high standard of environmental performance.
“Our social investment programmes are designed to benefit our host communities in particular and we implement diverse programmes in scholarships.
”Also, we engaged in development projects through the Global Memorandum of Understanding and other initiatives within the resources available,” Odugbesan said. (NAN)