We Can No Longer Bear Effect of Bonga Oil Spill, Communities Cry out
Communities impacted by the December 2011 Bonga crude oil spill under the auspices of Shoreline Communities of Nigeria have raised the alarm over the effect of the spill on their lives.
They said the harmful chemicals Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) used to dispel the spills have further destroyed ecological resources and fishing activities in the affected communities.
According to them, the effect of the spill and chemicals are currently ravaging 730 communities especially children, women and men numbering 8,000,000 living at the coastline in 21 local government areas of Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Ondo, Ogun and Lagos States.
The communities therefore appealed to the federal government, individuals and corporate bodies to assist them with relief materials.
InastatementsignedbyMr. Mathias Palimote representing Lagos State, Mr AustinOfoeyemo, DeltaState, MrJacob Palimote, Bayelsa State, Mr. Harry Fombo, Rivers Rivers, Mr Godwin Ojajune, Ondo State and Papa Bamigboye, Ogun State and made available to journalists yesterday in Warri, Delta State, they alleged that the harmful chemicals sprayed by Shell was seriously affecting their fishing activities. According to them the appeal is to cushion the effect of the December 2011 and July 2017 SNEPCo Bonga crude oil spill disaster on the people.
“The effects in our fishing areas which have not been restored since the spills incidences are now the major causes of sicknesses, deaths and hunger. “The effect is currently ravaging 730 of our communities especially children, women and men numbering 8,000,000 people living at the sea coast of 21 local government areas of Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Ondo, Ogun and Lagos States.
“So we are appealing that the federal government, National Assembly, European Union, United Nations and all other international communities. “Central Bank of Nigeria )CBN), Federal Ministries of Health, Environment, Transport, Petroleum Resources, Agriculture and Water Resources, Ecological Fund Office, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), corporate organisations and other relevant authorities should come to our aid.
“They should please kindly and urgently intervene by assisting our communities and people with relief materials, fishing nets, accessories and boats as well as boreholes water and health centres in each of the affected 21 local government areas. “So as to cushion the effects of the pollutants, pending the restoration of the contaminated natural resources, fishing grounds, dead aquatics and when Shell will pay compensation to our communities,” they appealed.