Communities in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State are grappling with the aftermath of a major oil spill from the Ogboinbiri-Tebidaba pipeline, owned and operated by Oando Plc. The spill, first detected on Friday, October 4, 2024, has devastated a wide swath of the Apoi Creek and its surrounding areas, causing untold damage to the environment, and threatening the livelihood of several communities.
Eyewitnesses report that hundreds of barrels of crude oil have been gushing unchecked into the fragile ecosystem due to a rupture in the pipeline, allegedly caused by equipment failure. The rupture, located at the 6 o'clock position beneath a facility inherited from Agip by Oando, has unleashed a torrent of crude oil into the environment, with no immediate end in sight.
As the crude oil spills into the forests, rivulets, and farmlands of the Apoi Creek, the communities of Keme-Ebiama, Ogboinbiri, Kokologbene, Gbaraun, and even as far as Ukubie are bearing the brunt of the spill's aftermath. These once-thriving communities now find themselves caught in the grip of an environmental nightmare, one that threatens to strip them of their homes, livelihoods, and dignity.
Chief Newstyle Ogiori, Chairman of the Council of Chiefs in Keme-Ebiama, voiced the community's anguish, stating, “Our source of water is contaminated, our farmlands are ruined, and our means of survival are hanging by a thread.”
Residents describe the heart-wrenching impact the spill has had on their everyday lives. Fishing gears have been destroyed, swamps and crops submerged in toxic sludge, and the water bodies they rely on for drinking and cooking are now poisoned.
One local, Mr. Timi Koripamo, lamented in the Izon language, “We have always borne the brunt of oil exploitation, and this is the latest tragedy.” Another, Mrs. Gradeone Nikki, called for urgent action, demanding a comprehensive cleanup of the polluted area and adequate compensation for the communities left devastated by the spill.
As the oil continues to spread through the floodwaters, activists and community leaders are urging for an immediate halt to the spill and the mobilization of an effective cleanup. Environmentalists are calling for a thorough investigation into the cause of the equipment failure, as well as long-term solutions that include better maintenance of aging infrastructure, stronger regulatory oversight, and meaningful compensation for affected communities.
Oando Plc has yet to issue a formal response addressing the spill’s impact or outlining their remediation plans.
