Fresh oil spill sparks fire in Rivers community

A massive oil spill, from a wellhead at oil mining lease (OML) 15, has reportedly triggered a fire in Buguma, Asari-Toru local government area of Rivers.

The facility is said to be owned by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.

According to a report by Punch, residents in the community said the spill, which has been raging for the third day in a row, has affected Asari-Ttoru and neighbouring Degema LGA of the state.

Residents also said the fire has spread across the waterways.

Sources also told the publication on Wednesday that neither government agencies nor the manifold’s owners had visited the scene.

Speaking on the incident, Livingstone Membere, president of the Kalabari Youth Federation, decried what he termed the “insensitivity of the company operating the facility”.

“No company, no government agency has come in to stop the spill,” Membere said.

“You can see the fire. We never knew it would get to this stage where we would now be living with hazardous gas.

“We want the federal government to immediately stop the fire and do remedial action. We also want a thorough clean-up of the environment.

“We want people that have been affected by this devastation to be adequately compensated.

“Now, the fire is four days old. The oil belongs to Nigeria, so why is the federal government failing?”

Taribo Horsefall, another youth leader from Bukuma, said the fire erupted due to the siphoning of oil from a badge a few days ago.

“The company brought a badge that was extorting oil from the ground,” he explained.

“The crane was dragging something from the well to bring it out. What we saw was a spark, that’s how the fire came about. It was a spark that caused the fire.”

‘AQUATIC LIFE AFFECTED, HUMANS THREATEN LIVES’

A chief in the community, who chose to be anonymous, called for a swift response to the situation.

“We have to report to the concerned authority and we have been calling them for some days now, nothing has been done,” he said. 

“It is a health threat to every person in this environment.

“And the traditional institution is also concerned and we are contacting one of two persons in government to make sure they come and arrest the situation on the ground.

“People are running out from here because of the fire. They cannot stay there. 

“So we are calling on the NNPC and other government agencies to come to our aid.

“It has affected every area because some fishes in the water are dying, there’s no way we’ll go and pick our periwinkles again. 

“Our mangroves are dying and all the rest. [We] want urgent government intervention to stop this thing.”

When contacted, Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the state police command, said the spill was from a faulty valve.

Iringe-Koko also said the command had “alerted relevant government agencies on the development”.