18th August, 2011
Even as the United Nation Environmental Programme, UNEP, report indicting Anglo-Dutch Shell on oil spill pollution in Ogoniland of Rivers State is still raging both locally and internationally, the Environment Rights Action ERA, has announced that there is a raging fire outbreak in two oil spill sites at Ikarama Community in Bayelsa State.
In a statement Posted online, the non-government organisation, NGO, said: “There is an on going fire outbreak on two spill sites at Ikarama community, Okordia clan, Bayelsa State. One started yesterday by noon and the other was gutted this morning.”
ERA further said that at the time of issuing the statement, no life was lost ” but houses and properties are in danger, the poeple are apprehensive. urgent action is required to put out the fire.”
P.M.NEWS could not get an independent confirmation at press time. But ERA claimed that its field monitor is currently on a field visit to the site.
Anglo oil giant Royal Dutch Shell had disclosed on Wednesday through a spokesman for the company that it had closed one of its platforms, onshore in Bayelsa State, Southsouth Nigeria, following several oil leaks on the pipeline.
“A number of incidents involving leaking oil arrived on the platform Adibawa. We had to close for repairs to take place. Teams are mobilised to the site,” Tony Okonedo, a spokesman for the company told AFP.
“The cause of the leak is still unknown. An investigation is underway to determine what really happened,” he said.
He declined to disclose the losses that could result in the cessation of production.
Nigeria, the eighth largest producer of oil, currently produces about 2.4 million barrels per day, the vast majority of production comes from the Niger Delta.
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt with Agency report