Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has criticized Shell for passing gas pipelines across the surface of Kolo Creek at Ogbia Local Government Area (LGA) in Bayelsa.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) is running gas pipelines across Kolo Creek at Imiringi in Ogbia LGA.
In a field report made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa, on Monday, ERA/FoEN noted that running oil and gas pipelines across water surface was an environmental anomaly that runs against best practices.
The report was signed by Head of Field Operations at ERA/FoEN Mr Alagoa Morris.
ERA/FoEN described the development as ‘environmental terrorism’ and should not be allowed.
The NGO urged the relevant agencies of government, especially the federal and Bayelsa Ministry of Environment to wade into the matter urgently, as the pipeline hinders navigation.
The report quoted residents of Imiringi community as saying that the pipelines across the water surface of the creek affected water transportation as well as obstructed canoes used for fishing and evacuation of farm produce.
The NGO quoted Mr Naru Emesua an engineer and resident of the community as saying that the gas pipeline ought to have been buried five feet below the water surface.
“But what we now see is about two feet above the water level. That is why it has affected navigation on the creek.
“Most of our women use this creek to access their farms, fishing and business connections to some communities in Rivers State.
“The economic significance of this creek to our people is immense, especially when you consider the fact that we can access the Orashi River through it.
“And the crude oil slick we have observed on the creek currently is disturbing. This is harmful and that is why we are calling on Shell to come and carry out proper cleanup of the creek it has polluted.” Emesua said
ERA/FoEN urged Shell to return to the site and correct the environmental anomaly in the interest of environmental and social justice and investigate the source of the oil leak found in the area..
“The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency and Bayelsa Ministry of Environment should visit the Kolo Creek and ask Shell to take immediate steps to clean up all traces of crude oil slick found between SPDC’s Kolo Creek Logistics Base and Imiringi community and beyond.
“The people cannot continue to suffer and pay the price of crude oil exploitation simply because the resources were found in their environment.
“If there are no current oil leaks within the environment, it means Shell is deliberately pouring crude oil into the Kolo Creek; the peoples’ only natural source of drinking water,” the NGO stated.
Mr Precious Okolobo, SPDC’s Media Relations Manager declined comments on the matter (NAN)