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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government has expressed dismay at the extent of damage oil exploration has caused and the attendant neglect by international oil companies (IOCs) operating in the Niger Delta.
The commissioner for Environment, Mr. lselema Gbaranbiri, made this known while addressing a meeting of foreign experts from Oasis Earth and other environmental stakeholders in Yenagoa after an on-the-spot assessment tour to spill sites around the state.
The tour was aimed at curbing the menace of environmental degradation caused by oil spills in the state.
According to Mr. Gbaranbiri, the Bayelsa State government was concerned over the level of damage oil spills has caused the environment and its negative impact on human health, noting that the government was ready to collaborate with Oasis Earth to profer lasting solutions to the challenges occasioned by oil exploration.
The commissioner said, before now, Bayelsans took to farming as a means of livelihood, but the situation is different today, as all our lands and water ways have been polluted by spills making life difficult for the citizenry.
Director of Oasis Earth, an Environmental scientist and professor at the University of Alaska (USA), Mr. Rick Steiner speaking during the engagement disclosed that, the organization was formed to tackle the problems of environmental degradation and that it had over the years worked on environmental aspect of oil and gas operations in a lot of countries and states, including the Niger Delta.
Steiner said he and his partner, Mr. Festus Odubo, were on a fact finding and assessment visit to Bayelsa regarding oil spills and its effect in the state, the current state of oil industry divestment, decommissioning and abandonment of onshore infrastructure/facilities on the Niger Delta and to prepare a report with observations and recommendations to be circulated to all interested organizations including the United States’ secretary general based on their gatherings from the visit.
Others who spoke on the various challenges and recommended solutions to the oil spill problems were; Mr. Iniruo Wills, former commissioner for Environment, Bayelsa State, Mr. Bank Japhet former director, Petroleum Pollution Control Department, as well as other key Environmental experts and community representatives who all called for the need for a proper frame work to curb oil spills and its effects in the state.
Also present at the meeting were, the commissioner for Mineral Resources, Bayelsa State; Mr. Ebieri Jones, special adiviser (SA) to the governor on Oil and Gas, Mr. Franklin Otele, permanent secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Waripamo Martin, head of Department, Petroleum and Pollution; Mr Rueben, Enai, private consultant, Mr. Woyengikuro Agedah, among others.
Some places visited during the tour, were; Nembe OML 29, 2021 blowout site, Aghoro Community among others.
