From Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
The alleged act of criminal negligence and dumping of drums of wastes suspected to be toxic by the Italian oil giant, Agip Oil Company along the creeks and waterways of the Nembe in Bayelsa state has become a source of worry to the CIvil Liberties Organization (CLO).
To this end, the body has written to the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the National Assembly over the act by the oil firm.
According to the CLO, the report of an investigation team set up by the indigenes of the affected areas and the Bayelsa chapter of the CLO showed that over 30 drums of toxic materials has been dumped along the Sabatoru-Etiama area of the area due to the company’s poor management of toxic waste.
The Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO) in a statement issued by the State Chairman, Chief Nengi James described the action of the oil multinational as unacceptable and provocative to the youths of the affected clans in the Nembe Local Government areas of the state.
According to the CLO ,”the act of dumping toxic wastes in drums and abandoning them in the mangrove forest is unacceptable and the act contravene the provided environmental regulations as it is against international best practices.”
James, who is also the chairman of the Oil and Gas Committee of Nembe kingdom, observed that “from its fact finding visits that Eni Agip, the CLO discovered that about 30 drums of toxic crude oil wastes has been dumped into the mangroove along Sabatoru-Etiama axis in Nembe Kingdom where Agip is currently carrying out replacement of its obsolete pipelines.”
“While we are condemning the negligence of NAOC, CLO regreted that multinational oil companies in Nigeria has continued to spill oil with impunity despite its health and environmental hazards. CLO therefore urged the national assembly to expedite action on the proposed bill that will call erring multinationals to order and address the incessant vexing cases of crude oil spills in Nigeria.”
The Civil Liberty Organization ( C.L. O ) Bayelsa State chapter has expressed worry over the corporate negligence by Eni Agip activities in dumping Oil Spill waste in Niger Delta, Nigeria. CLO in its fact finding observed that ENI agip corporate works of replacing its obsolete and rusty Pipe line enroute Sabatoru to Etiama axis in Nembe Kingdom,, over 30 drums of Crude oil is being dumped in the forest where the replacement was done.
