House of Representatives has called for clean up and compensation of communities affected by oil spillage that occurred from an indigenous oil firm’s well head Conoil in some Communities under Sapele Local Government Area,under Okpe, Sapele and Uvwie Federal Constituency of Delta State.
The House raised the concern on the devastating oil spill during its plenary on Wednesday when a motion by the lawmaker Representing Okpe, Sapele and Uvwie Federal Constituency,
Efe Afe, noted that the oil spill started since last month February, 2022 and was reported on the 1st of March.
Hon Efe Afe informed the House that the spillage could have been averted if Conoil had not breeched the environmental compliance guidelines as stipulated by ISO 14001 which mandate all license holders operators, serving company to adopt a systematic and integrated management plan discharge to the environment
Hon Afe listed the communities affected by the spill in Okpe and Sapele local government Areas to include
EKOKOR 1, EKOKOR 2, ERIAMA OPORAJA EGBORODE, MEREIE, EROGHOR, EGIKPORO, AMUOGBOGBO, OPURAIA ERIAMA, KPOKPOGRI , ELUME AMUOKPOKPOR, OLOGHO, DEGHELE, OKWUVO, OKWELE-BRA, ADAGARASA ELUME
He added that the livelihood of the people have been affected as the oil spill affected the farms and the river in their communities.
The federal lawmaker revealed that the company had refused to carry out a clean up exercise thereby causing more harm to the people.
He urged NNPC and Conoil to be involved in the cleanup and compensate the affected victims
The House mandated its Committee on Upstream and Environment to visit the areas to access the environmental impact and report back to the House within four weeks.
It also urged the National Emergency Management Agency to send relief materials to the affected communities to cushion the effect of the spillage.
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