A devastating oil blowout has grounded fishing occupation at over 10 oil communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area in Delta State.
Some of the affected communities were Benikrukru, Kokodiagbene, Oporoza, Azama, Inikorogha and Kurutie and the leak was reportedly, at the weekend, spreading to more communities in the area.
Thousands of fishermen in the communities, their families and buyers from different parts of the state and beyond have been stranded as a result of the spill.
Villagers in the affected communities complained that there was palpable fear in the affected communities, as some people have fallen sick due to pollution of bodies of rivers which are major sources of water supply to the people.
A fisherman, Paul Okoni, disclosed: “I noticed the spill that occurred, February 18 night, on the Abiteye flow station pipeline belonging to Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, two days after the incident and that was February 21.”
President of the Gbaramatu Youth Council, GYC, Worldwide, Shadrach Onitsha Ebikeme, who corroborated the claim, told Vanguard: “American oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, which owns the facility has not admitted responsibility for the oil spill.”
He asserted: “We are, therefore, calling on CNL to rise up to its responsibility in the aftermath of an oil spill alleged to have resulted from its pipeline in Abiteye flow station.”
“The said Chevron oil spill occurred on the night of February18, but was noticed by the people on the 21st of February from the Otunana to Kenyangbene / Abiteye pipeline. But the company has been denying the occurrence of the spill.
“Presently, the whole of the kingdom is impacted. Benikrukru, Kokodiagbene, Oporoza, Azama, Inikorogha, Kurutie and a host of other communities within the shoreline and inside the creeks of Gbaramatu have all been severely impacted, as the spill continues to spread with the occupation of fishing and other water related trade seriously hampered.
“The people’s means of livelihoods have been severely impacted and many are even reported to be falling sick due to the contamination of the ecosystem they rely on for sustenance,” he added.
Ebikeme, therefore, called on Chevron Nigeria Limited to live up to expectations by engaging the affected communities, rather than staying mute and denying its involvement in the spill.