“The oil spill had grossly affected the means of livelihood of residents of Ogboinbiri community who were predominantly fishermen”
By YANGE IKYAA
The Senate on Wednesday urged the Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited to accelerate environmental action on remediating Ogboinbiri community which has been affected by crude oil spillage in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State within the next 90 days.
The call by the upper chamber was contained in recommendations adopted by the Senate after it considered a report by the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions over the alleged failure by Agip Oil Company to pay compensation to the community affected by crude oil spillage.
Chairman of the Committee, Patrick Akinyelure, in his presentation, said the panel received a petition from Dunobene Perekeme on behalf of Ogboinbiri community.
Akinyelure, disclosed that the clean-up of the affected area was done without the participation of the host community to ascertain whether or not the claim of third party interference by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC) was the cause of the spill.
According to him, the Committee in its findings observed that the incident of oil spill occurred on June 5, 2021, during the nationwide lockdown, and was reported to the relevant government regulatory agencies.
He noted that the impact of the oil spill had grossly affected the means of livelihood of residents of Ogboinbiri community who were predominantly fishermen, lumbers and farmers.
Perekeme, in his petition to the Committee, requested NAOC to ensure proper clean-up and remediation on the environment without delay. He also requested that relief materials be provided to the victims of the crude oil spill to cushion the effect of loss of livelihood by the polluter (NAOC).
While reeling out a list of demands, he requested that a total of N3.5 billion be paid as specific and general damages for the claimants whose properties, means of livelihood and health were impacted by the spill.
Out of this total, he explained that N500 million was for compensation to all claimants as damages to their properties.
In addition, he noted that N20 million would be paid to each claimant as damages for their health, bringing the total amount to N2.02 billion on health claims.
He said the sum of N1 billion on the other hand was intended for general damages to the claimants for loss of livelihood to ameliorate their suffering. This was just as the chamber commended the oil company for providing some monetary compensation to the affected community as consolation for the hardship caused by the spill.