The Okpoama Kingdom in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has sent a ‘save our soul message’ to the Federal Government of Nigeria following a disastrous oil spill incident in the area.
The oil spill reportedly occurred two weeks ago on the 24-inch Ogoda-Brass crude oil trunk line operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company.
The Chairman of Okpoama Kingdom Oil and Gas Committee, Percy Wemi-Kwomain, stated in Yenagoa on Thursday the spill occurred at the Amangaetima bush, near Ewoama-Brass.
He said, “The oil spill occurred two weeks ago and it has discharged enormous amount of crude oil into the adjourning creeks and rivulets, thereby affecting the environment and the livelihood of our people.”
According to him, the NAOC made two attempts to fix the leaking pipeline without the usual Joint Investigation Visit conducted by the relevant authorities concerned but were stopped by youths placed on surveillance in the area.
READ ALSO: Ameachi inaugurates Nigeria Port Authority Board
“Without letting us know they came with a swamp-buggy to fix the leaking point. We stopped them twice before they came to inform us that they want us to join them for the JIV.
“The oil is still leaking, that was why we have sent SOS to the Federal Government to come to our aid”, Kwomain added.
The community leader further noted that the high-pressure pipeline was built since 1972 and had recorded failure in several points.
