Aiteo Oil Spill: N58.7b Lost, Communities Devastated As Nembe Group Demands Swift Action

Nembe Sę Congress a socio-cultural and non-political umbrella organization for the Nembe people in Bayelsa State has called on the Federal Government to officially designate areas impacted by the spill from Aiteo facility in Nembe as a “Major Disaster Area.”

The call by the group came as it disclosed that more than two million barrels of oil have spilled into Nembe communities in what it described as about the biggest oil spill disaster in the history of the country.

 GreenWhiteGreen GWG reports that the two million barrels spilled since Aiteo reported oil spill on November 5, 2021 would have meant a loss of $142 million (N58.7 billion) as the Brent crude was selling on Monday, December 6, 2021 at $71.02 a barrel.

Reacting to the development, Nembe Sę Congress at a press conference addressed by its president, Prof. Godwin Egein also called on the operator, Aiteo to show utmost transparency in addressing the issues arising from the spillage towards ensuring future cordiality with the host community.

Noting the impact on the communities, he said:

“It therefore, goes without saying that the primary means of livelihood and sustenance of the people of Nembe Sę especially Opu-Nembe Kingdom and her adjoining communities have been totally destroyed by the on-going situation, thereby rendering them susceptible to reliance on relief materials only, in the immediate short term.”

While calling on the people living in the affected communities to relocate, the group demanded thus:

1. That relevant Government Agencies compel AITEO to ensure quick capping of the Spill and begin comprehensive clean-up operations expeditiously, in compliance with global best practices.

2. The Federal Government should ensure that the Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) takes place as soon as possible and the outcome made public immediately.

3. Cognizant of the long term effects of this disaster, an Independent Investigation must be conducted to unravel all the issues behind the disaster, with recommendations against future occurrence.

4. Nembe Sè Congress hereby publicly reaffirm our commitment to also constitute a Body of Experts to join in the Investigative effort, in order to get to the root of this matter.

5. There must be an urgent but comprehensive remediation program for the ecosystem to restore the bio-diversity of the affected areas.

6. While acknowledging the relief materials so far provided by AITEO, we still call for a more comprehensive healthcare arrangement and the continuous monitoring of the conditions of the affected people.

7. May we use this medium to advise all interested parties in this matter to avoid playing politics with the lives of our people and our environment, all of which are currently under serious threat.

8. Congress hereby call on the Bayelsa State Government to liaise with the Federal Government to officially designate the impacted and affected areas in Nembe Sę as “Major Disaster Area”

“In the meantime however, we must commend the patience and understanding of HRM King (Dr) Biobelemoye Josiah, Ogbodo VIII, Amayanabo of Opu-Nembe Kingdom, the Council of Chiefs and the people of Opu-Nembe Kingdom in this very difficult and trying time.

“We urge them and all other Kingdoms and Communities of Nembe Sę to continue to exercise patience and self-restraint in all issues concerning this disaster.”

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