Hundreds of natives from four Itsekiri communities, Tuesday morning stage a peaceful protest against massive oil spill from Chevron’s RMP 14 Dibi Field Facility even as soldiers in four military gun boats and numerous barges arrived the communities to intimidate the protesting women and youths.
The affected communities are Aja-Omaetan, Tisun, Kolokolo and Usor all in Warri North Council Area of Delta State.
In a letter dated November 13th, 2018 addressed to the Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) by Counsel to Aja-Omaetan community, by Chris Oghene Omoru for Chris .O. Omoru and Co they alleged that a first spill occurred on 31st October, 2018 and a second one on the 7th November, 2018 respectively, saying that NOSDRA advised Chevron to change the failing equipment but they refused and went ahead to clamp the leaking pipe that again failed that led to the current massive spill that has devastated their communities.
It was gathered that Chevron did a Joint Investigation Visit(JIV) with the affected communities and NOSDRA, the Federal Government regulator for the first spill before clamping the leaking pipe to contain the spill but invited the affected communities for a meeting, Tuesday 13th, November,2018 for the current spill where Chevron allegedly insisted on undertaking another JIV without NOSDRA officials which Aja-Omaetan community rejected out rightly, saying it is intended to intimidate them.
They therefore requested an immediate stop to further military intimidation, send relief materials to all the impacted communities and a JIV of all parties including NOSDRA to assess the degree of damage and compensation to be paid accordingly because the spill is as a result of equipment failure.
According to the letter that was copied to the relevant authorities including the Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Federal House of Representatives and the Director General/CEO, NOSDRA they insisted that failure to adhere to their JIV position would lead to dire consequences as they are prepared to take steps to seek justice as the circumstances demands as the Chevrons’ action contradict NOSDRA Act of 2006 and the Nigerian Constitution. Efforts to reach officials of Chevron for their comment failed as calls put across to them did not sail through.
The post Delta Communities Protest Chevron’s Alleged Oil Spillage appeared first on Independent Newspapers Nigeria.
Source: Daily Independent
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Delta Communities Protest Chevron’s Alleged Oil Spillage
Description : Hundreds of natives from four Itsekiri communities, Tuesday morning stage a peaceful protest against massive oil spill from Chevron’s RMP 1...
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