The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has confirmed an oil spill from a Shell-operated pipeline in Obololi, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
Chukwuemeka Woke, director-general of NOSDRA, disclosed in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja that the agency has launched an investigation into the incident.
Woke said the leak from the 16-inch Nun River-Kolo Creek pipeline discharged a yet-to-ascertained volume of crude into the River Nun, impacting adjourning areas around Obololi.
He explained that the agency got a report of the incident on Monday and convened a Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) to the incident site to ascertain the cause of the spill.
According to the statement, “The JIV was led by NOSDRA and the investigating team comprised relevant stakeholders including SPDC (the operator). the Bayelsa Ministry of Environment and the community to establish the indices around the incident.
“The JIV is to recommend necessary regulatory compliance actions to mitigate the spill’s impact.
“The cause of the spill is unknown because the suspected leak point/pipeline is submerged in water, implying that the JIV is inconclusive. SPDC is preparing a coffer dam to get access to the spill point,” NOSDRA stated.
The spills agency said that containment of the spill area has been complete while temporary storage tanks are in transit as recovery of spilled crude will commence on Friday.
NOSDRA said it is actively monitoring the ongoing response and continuosly evaluating the situation to ensure that appropriate response actions are deployed appropriately.
Meanwhile, Target Segibo, Chairman of Southern Ijaw LGA, who earlier visited the affected communities, pledged to provide an alternative water source following the pollution of the Nun River, which the residents rely on.
However, officials of SPDC, who had promised to address the incident, have yet to take action.
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