The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria Representative in Bayelsa State, Mr. Alagoa Morris has dismissed claims by a Shell Spokesman, Mr. Precious Okoloba, that the current massive oil spill in Taylor creeks was due to sabotage.
Responding to a statement by Shell spokesman, Mr. Alagoa described his statement as, “same old story”.
According to him, “how did they come to that conclusion without a Joint Investigation Visit/Joint Inspection Team report? They went to the spill point stealthily on Tuesday to Clamp the ruptured spot with the JTF and hurriedly left the site. About three hours after the clamping, the clamped spot failed and resulted into a more serious spill which sent heavy volume of crude oil down to the Taylor Creek. Without any JIV/JIT report, I won’t believe them because the JIV report is usually signed by all the stakeholders who visited the spill site, including community representatives.
He explained further that, while it was true that the cause of spills around well 2 was being contested between Shell and JK4(Edagberi/Betterland),the crude oil spilt here was just spreading within the swamps. “The crude oil that flowed into Taylor Creek is from spill sites in Kilama community, in Biseni clan of Yenagoa LGA,Bayelsa State.
Also ERA Head of Media, Mr. Phillip Jakpor an interview said, “Shell’s facilities are ill maintained. Shell has a tradition of passing the buck when it is supposed to conduct integrity checks on linkages regularly. The term sabotage is used to dodge responsibility. An investigation should be carried out by the relevant government agencies”
Niger Delta Standard gathered that the spill has been contaminating Taylor Creek since May 6, 2013. The spillage has provoked a disagreement between Shell officials and community leaders over the cause of the oil leaks. Shell contends that the spills were caused by saboteurs while the community argues for Shell’s culpability.
Precious Okoloba, a Shell spokesman, reportedly said that the oil firm had reported several spill incidents in the area, blaming the spills on the activities of oil thieves.
“We have to investigate to find out if this is a new case,” Mr. Okoloba said.
Commenting on an earlier spill in the area, Shell’s Corporate Media Relations Manager, Tony Okonedo, said, “Sadly, this spill adds to a rising trend in the Adibawa area.” According to Mr. Okonedo, Shell “recorded four different spills on our flow lines in the area between 9th and 26th April, all caused by sabotage and theft as attested to by the different JIV [joint investigation visit] reports.” He added: “Cleanup of residual impacted areas is planned for later in the year. SPDC is very concerned about these sabotage spills because of the negative impact on the people and the environment.”
