ENVIRONMENT Bonga oil spill: Minister assures affected communities of relief

The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, has assured shoreline communities in Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa states affected by the Bonga oil spillage that relief will soon come their way

The minister gave the assurance in Abuja, recently, when leaders of the affected shoreline communities in the three states, led by their coordinator Mr. Francis Amoma Monday paid her a courtesy visit.

Mallam, promised that she will call a meeting of all stakeholders, including Shell Petroleum Development Corporation (SPDC), in the coming weeks to find an amicable solution to the challenge posed by the spillage.

She appealed for continued peace in the region, stating the need for all communities of the Niger Delta region affected by the Bonga oil spillage to work together towards finding a lasting solution to the problem.

Speaking earlier, leader of delegation and coordinator of the shoreline communities in Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States, Mr. Francis Amoma Monday, praised the efforts of Shell in the overall development of the Niger Delta region, especially in the area of the provision of social amenities and infrastructure such as roads, schools and hospitals as well as electricity and portable water.

He explained that the pollutants used by Shell to clean up the spill which have been banned in some parts of the world including USA and Switzerland have completely destroyed their farmlands, marine and aquatic life, adding that a lot more needed to be done to bring relief to the communities.

It will be recalled that the Bonga oil spill occurred on 20 December 2011 during a routine export operation exercise.