Following the oil spill, which polluted waters, lands, and disrupted economic activity in the Agwetiti community, indigenes have called on Nigeria Agip Oil Company Limited to mobilize and distribute relief materials to the affected area.
It will be recalled that on June 14, 2024, a Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited facility’s equipment malfunction caused an oil spill, which contaminated the Agwetiti community.
Speaking to reporters recently in Lagos, President General/CDC Chairman Agwetiti Community Chief Charles Olisa on behalf of the community stated that for over two weeks since the waters and lands of our community, Agwetiti, got polluted by oil spillage resulting from equipment failure of Agip Company facilities, mum has not just been the word from the company, and have also failed to do the needful in line with global best practices and good conscience.”
Explaining further, Olisa said that “a world class company like Agip with decades of industry experience and run by experts chose to behave this way is shocking, disturbing and painful. Their action is condemnable, reprehensible.”
Lamenting, he said that the spillage has adversely affected the environment and increased the level of poverty in the community, taking a great toll on the physical and mental health, as well as the occupational mobility of the people. Members of the community are unable to access water for drinking and domestic activities, and their farmlands have been damaged. Till this moment the crude could be seen flowing downstream along the Niger, destroying aquatic life in the process. The spill is massive and devastating, with the attendant offensive stench becoming unbearable.”
“For the people of Agwetiti community whose existence revolves around the marine environment and their soils being that they are all farmers and fishermen, June 14, 2024 is a date they will never forget because it was the day their woes were compounded and their existence hanging in the balance. They have continued to wonder how to pick up the broken pieces of their lives. Their natural endowments which are supposed to be sources of blessings and relief have become a curse for no fault of theirs.”
“Operational failures of oil facilities can occur. This is common knowledge. But in the light of this, measures are also in place to address the consequences of such occurrences one of which is prompt provisions of relief materials to the affected people. Sadly, this has not been done by Agip company since the oil spillage occured.”
“All over the world, companies who own facilities that cause oil spillage are duty-bound to proactively and expeditiously contain the spill and resolve the situation as rapidly, safely and effectively as possible in order to limit the escape of oil and protect the marine and coastal environments from its effects. Unfortunately, this has not been the case with your company. This unfortunate delay has led to the spill breaking down and widely distributed throughout the water and the environment. Not only has the thriving trades of fishing and farming been halted, the once enthralling swathe of luxuriant vegetation has become a sorry sight and the entire place is now choked with offensive smell of crude and contaminated air. With no means of survival and trapped in poisoned habitations, life has become hellish for our people.
The Polluter pay principle, originating from the OECD in 1971 and enshrined in the RIO Declaration, establishes that those responsible for environmental damage, such as oil spills, must bear the costs of managing pollution and compensating victims. Nigerian courts have upheld this principle in cases like NAOC vs Akpati & ors, emphasizing its importance in environmental protection. It is crucial for companies like NAOC to adhere to this principle to align with global agreements like the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals concerning oil spill issues and environmental stewardship. Immediate action is needed to address these critical matters affecting numerous individuals.
We therefore, demands immediate and adequate provision of relief materials and are determined not to tolerate any further delay.
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