By Anietie Akpan
Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF), a Civil Society Organization (CSO) working to promote ecological justice in Nigeria has called on Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company Limited to stop the ongoing oil spill in Eastern Obolo local government area of Akwa Ibom State.
Sterling Oil with an operational base in Eastern Obolo, Akwa Ibom State is operating a marginal field within the OML 13 oil and gas asset.
In a press statement dated June 2, and signed by the Coordinator of Peace Point Development Foundation, Comrade Umo Isua-Ikoh after the organisation’s on-the-spot visit to the communities affected by the spill; Emere-Oke and Akpabom communities, called on Sterling Oil to immediately stop the spill, clean up the mangroves of the affected communities and the Atlantic Ocean which the spill has flowed into.
The statement noted ” After receiving information from the affected communities that an oil spill has been going on within communities in Eastern Obolo for months now due to oil exploration and production activities by Sterling Oil, we visited the communities and had seen that a large part of the mangrove at Akpabom community has been devastated by oil.
” At Emere-Oke community, we have also seen where the oil spills from the Durga 4 oil rig into the Atlantic Ocean. This is an unacceptable development as the aquatic environment will be deeply Polluted. As reported by the community that this situation has been going on for months, we are deeply concerned that no action has been taken to address the spill. We are very worried over the impact this will have on aquatic lives and the environment “.
Isua-Ikoh who noted that it is disturbing that Sterling Oil few months ago were accused by the government of Akwa Ibom State for violating the terms of land grants and unlawful encroachment beyond its legally assigned portion in Eastern Obolo and surrounding communities are now allowing oil spill to go on in within their host communities unabated.
While calling on Sterling Oil to immediately stop the spill, clean up the environment and compensate the communities over the destruction of their environment, the organisation called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to investigate the spill and level of destruction caused thus take actions in accordance with their mandate.
The Organization equally called on the Government of Akwa Ibom State to be more sensitive and concerned over the operations of companies within the State through adequate monitoring thus protecting the environment, livelihood and health of its people.
