The National Oil Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) in Akwa Ibom, has confirmed oil spill from ExxonMobil facility on July 2, at the shores of Ibeno Local Government Area (LGA).
The Zonal Head of NOSDRA, who simply called his name as Mr Obot, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo, on Thursday.
Obot said the agency had sent personnel to the shores of Ibeno for inspection on July 5, and they discovered spillage in Ibeno and environs.
“We sent our personnel from the agency to inspect the oil spill on Friday July 5, and they discovered oil patches there.
“Though we do not know the volume of the spillage, but there was oil patches around the shores of several communities in Ibeno Local Government Area,’’ he said.
The NOSDRA official said that he had received many correspondences from the council, youths and community leaders informing the agency of the spillage.
Obot, however, said the agency had written their reports and forwarded to the Headquarters in Abuja.
Also speaking, Mr Ifum Udoh, the Chairman of Ibeno LGA, said that the oil spill occurred on July 2, and that he immediately reported the spillage to NOSDRA in the state.
He also told NAN that he reported the matter to the Manager, Government and Public Affairs of ExxonMobil, Mr Aniefiok Idiok.
“ExxonMobil is fond of denying oil spill, the oil spill occurred and I informed ExxonMobil; I also wrote to NOSDRA and they sent their personnel, they saw it and captured it.
“Last year, there was oil spill twice, but ExxonMobil denied it, everybody saw it,’’ Udoh said.
Udoh condemned the company’s consistent violation of environmental laws by spillage of crude oil on sea and territorial lands of the area.
“They have been destroying our environment but this time around, we have to do something about it.
“The oil spill occurred on July 2 and 3; I went round the shores of Ibeno to observe the oil spill myself.
“On July 5, I took the management of NOSDRA down to the Ibeno shore, they saw it and captured the oil spill.”
He explained that the oil spill had damaged aquatic habitat, agriculture; as well as polluted the air exposing the people of the area to enormous health hazards.
“For sometimes now, fishermen have not been able to catch fish because many of them cannot go to sea again because of the oil spill.
He advised ExxonMobil to do a thorough clean up exercise because it is responsible for the spillage.
Mr Assam Johnson, a farmer at Ibeno, said oil spill was destroying aquatic life AND AGRICULTURE in the area.
Johnson advised the oil company to repair their worn out pipes that were largely responsible for the incessant oil spill in the state.
He also urged ExxonMobil to urgently embark on a thorough clean up exercise of the area.
Reacting to the development, Mr Ogechukwu Udeagha, Manager, Media and Communications of the company, denied any oil spill from ExxonMobil facilities.
According to Udeagha, there is no evidence to support the claim and none of its facilities has been reported to having the potential to spill as was being alleged.
He restated the company’s continued commitment to maintaining high safety, health, and environmental standards in its operations; as well as to the well-being of host communities. (NAN)