Hunger, sickness as oil spill hits Delta community

 

Worried by the unabated oil spill in Kantu community, Warri South-West, in Delta State, a leader of the community, Chief Satchie Etoromi, has appealed to the National Oil Spill Detection and Responds Agency, NOSDRA, to come to the aid of the affected communities.

Speaking in Warri, Chief Etoromi, said the spill which started over 10 days ago, has caused colossal damage to the people of the community as their means of livelihood, which is fishing, has been destroyed.

He also appealed to the Delta State government and other government agencies to come to the rescue of the people, claiming that there was hunger and sickness in the community as a result of the oil spill which he said had spread across the creeks.

The community leader said: “So we are appealing to NOSDRA to come and help us salvage the situation. Apart from us, the Kantus, who are the owners of the place, there are other people in Odidi that are also affected by the spill.

“We are the people of the land and we are more concerned about this spill and that is why we are appealing to NOSDRA to come to our aid.

“Our people are fishermen and because of the spill, they can no longer go out and fish. All the fishes around that area are dead and if you go there now you will see fishes floating in the water. Our people are suffering because their means of livelihood has been destroyed. We are appealing to various government agencies to come to our plight quickly and help us from this situation.”

He said he was worried that none of the oil companies operating in the area has come out to lay claim to the ruptured pipeline, adding that since SPDC left the area, the community has been finding it difficult to hold the present oil companies responsible for any oil spill in the area.

“If it were when Shell was operating in the area and this kind of thing happens, we will all go to Shell. But now it is no longer SPDC, it is Seplat and others that are there now and that is why we are finding it very difficult to know whose pipeline has been damaged.

“We do not know up till now and that is why we are appealing to them to come out and find out whose pipeline has damaged. NOSDRA is the agency in charge of oil spill, so they should come quickly and get the companies to stop the spill.”