Oil spill: Edagberi community decries SPDC’s delay in cleaning site

Edagberi community in Rivers State has decried the delay in cleaning the oil spill that occurred at the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Adibawa Oil Field on July 12, 2015.

Ambrose Kofi Osuolo, secretary of Edagberi Community Development Committee (ECDC), expressed the people’s feelings in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria at Adibawa on Sunday.

Osuolo said over six months after the oil leak occurred, the recovery of the spill had not been completed and its impact had worsened.

He appealed to the Rivers and Federal Governments to prevail on Shell to expedite action on the recovery of the spilled crude and proceed with the remediation of the impacted environment.

A spokesperson of the oil company, Joseph Obari, had claimed that the oil leak at Adibawa Well 8 was caused by thieves who targeted the wellhead.

Osuolo said that the pollution was aggravated by the flood that occurred in the area, which dispersed the crude beyond the initial area of impact.

“You can see the mark of the spilled crude on the trunk of these trees here. SPDC is still nonchalant and delaying; they work two or three days in a week and take off. You can see the level of work they have done since July last year till now.

“As you know, after this period we shall be getting into another rainy season. If they continue to delay and we get into the rainy season again, the crude oil will spread further.

“You can see that where we are right now is a considerable distance from the well head where the spill occurred and it has spread far, almost getting to the Taylor Creek,” he said.

When contacted, Precious Okolobo, SPDC’s head of media, said the exercise was still in progress, saying: “SPDC stopped the leak from Adibawa Well 8 as soon as we became aware of the incident and also repaired the well head.

“However, challenges with access have delayed the conclusion of the joint investigation visit to determine the cause of the leak. The Ahoada West Local Government Council has since waded into it.

“SPDC secured access only for recovery of the spilled oil. We are hopeful for unfettered access to the spill site so that we can conduct clean-up and remediation