Bayelsa fishing community raises alarm over oil spill

Foropa, a fishing community along the Atlantic coastline in Southern Ijaw Local Council of Bayelsa, has raised an alarm concerning a ‘mystery’ oil spill that has left the coastline polluted.

According to a January 8 notification letter signed by Pastor Olabai Olozulu, the traditional ruler of Foropa, Middleton, the oil leak at the coastline was noticed on January 3.

The letter was addressed to the Head of Bayelsa Office of the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital.

The letter stated that six oil firms operate within Foropa vicinity. The companies include First E & P, Conoil Exploration, NEPL, Shell and Nigdel United Oil Company.

The community urged the regulatory agency and other government organs to trace the source of the spill and mitigate its impact on the predominantly fishing settlement. The community also urged the oil firms to mobilise relief materials to reduce the sufferings of the people.

Head of NOSDRA in Bayelsa, Chukwuemeka Iheanacho, confirmed that the agency was in receipt of the report and was planning a joint visit to the impacted site with all the oil companies operating in the area.

Iheanachor said a ‘fingerprinting’ analysis of the crude samples from the site would reveal the operator whose facility discharged the crude into the environment.

He said: “We are planning a joint investigation visit next Tuesday. I am writing to all operators within the area to send their representatives because samples will be collected for fingerprinting.”