Fresh oil spillage pollutes Eleme Community in Rivers State
At least five communities in the Eleme local government area of Rivers State has been affected by massive oil spill from a Trans-National oil facility operated by the Joint Venture partners with Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC). According to residents in the community the oil spill became noticeable on Sunday on the Okulu River which runs through several communities in the Eleme local government area, including, Aleto,Ogale, Agbonchia, Onne, Okpaku, Alesa.
The Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, Mr Obarilomate Ollor, while inspecting the spill site on Thursday said that preliminary observations showed that the spill was caused by equipment failure. He also stated that the spill has rendered about 300 registered fishermen unable to do their jobs.
Ollor, while encouraging Shell Nigeria to take the right steps in ensuring that the environment was restored also called for calm in the community as he said he had discussed with pipeline managers in SPDC and promised that when they arrive the site for a JIV (Joint Investigative Visit), the cause of the spills will be ascertained by them.
The Eleme and Ogoni communities have been plaqued by series of unrest caused by protest as a result of the incessant oil spillage in area especially as HYPREP was still struggling to clean-up the oil-impacted sites in Ogoniland.
