No fewer than 35 communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom in the Warri South West Council Area of Delta State, are spoiling for war with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) over oil spill they suffered which they claimed have denatured their environment with grave health hazard.
Consequently, they have issued a seven-day ultimatum to NNPC to commence the clean-up of their environment. The warning issued on Sunday was conveyed in a letter addressed to NNPC Group Managing Director.
The letter signed by Messrs. Johnbull Demebi, Edward Odudu and Chief Moses Bebenimibo accused the NNPC of contempt of an earlier agreement regarding the matter. It also said they will shut down the Escravos-to-Warri crude line if their demands are not meant.
If after seven days nothing is done by the NNPC and others, the communities threatened to shut down the Escravos to Warri trunk line until their demands are met. The implication is that the nation may experience a shortfall in fuel supply.
The spill was attributed to pipeline failure, hence the communities have asked the operators of the pipeline, PPMC, to provide relief materials for the affected communities in addition to compensation for the damage done to their environment.
The communities knocked the NNPC/NPSC for refusing to accept the cause of an oil spill that has been determined and accepted by the regulators: NOSDRA and the ministry of environment.
“NNPC/NPSC is only interested in pumping crude oil through the trunk line whereas the affected communities are in pain and sorrow with more communities affected by the spill because of the deliberate and willful refusal of NNPC to clean up the impacted communities and curtain further spread.
“The communities in the light of the foregoing have given the NNPC/NPSC (PPMC) seven days ultimatum to clean up the impacted communities, provide relief materials and pay adequate and fair compensation to the communities and people”, the statement said.
It warned that “If NNPC/NPSC fails to comply with our demands within seven days, we would have no other option than to shut down the Escravos to Warri trunk line until our demands are met.”
It listed affected communities to include Ikpokpo, Tejubor, Okpelema, Opuede, Opuede-Zion, Opuedebubor, Meka-Ama, Oto-Gbene, New Jerusalem Zion, Mala-Gbene, Atanba, Okerenkoko-Gbene, Oporoza federated communities, Gama-Zion and Azama, Inikorogha, Ibanfa, Igoba, Kunukunuama, Pepeama, Kurutie, Jaghala, Okerenkoko. Others are Egwa, Bikumor, Sarabubowei, Benikrukru, Kokodiagbene, Kantu, Bebebopre Zion, Olukperebu, Oburu, Ogbotu-Gbene and Seitorsububor all of Gbaramatu Kingdom.
