BEVERLY HILLS, March 08, (THEWILL) – Host communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West local government area of Delta state have threatened to disrupt repairs of a pipeline belonging to Chevron Nigeria Limited over alleged refusal by the company to pay adequate compensation for oil spillage that occurred on February, 3 2021.
To be from Utonana trunkline belonging to Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) have promised to disrupt repair works of the said pipeline if they are not paid adequate compensation.
The impacted communities, which are located close to the site of the oil spillage are Ighosuogbene, Teidegbene, Ebiabu – ama, Jones Creek, Edeuba and Ogidadunor communities.
In a statement signed by representatives of the affected communities, Comrade Jackson Timiyan, Chairman Ighosuogbene, Community Elder Sampson Teide, Chairman Teidegbene community, Mr Godfrey Bifuagha, Chairman Ebiabu – ama Community, Mr Jackson Powede, Edeuba Community and Mike Ari chairman Ogidamunor community the communities said the lives of the inhabitants of the impacted communities are in jeopardy as the sources of their livelihood have been negatively affected by the oil spill as well as posing danger to their health.
They also urged the American oil transnational company to conduct a Joint Investigation Verification, JIV, with representatives of the affected communities participating in the exercise among other agencies such as the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency ( NOSDRA)
The statement read, in part, “Teigbene, Ighosuogbene, Ebiabuama, Jones Creek, Edeuba, Ogidadunor communities located close to Utonana flow station where the oil spill occurred since 18 February 2021 are crying out for the adverse effects of the oil spill on their communities” the statement reads.
“ And that as communities closest to the scene of incident their entire livelihood has been crumbled since the occurrence of the oil spill with the people,s live put at risk with the Prevalent hazard.
“We are therefore calling on Chevron Nigerian Limited, operator of Utonana Field to swiftly carry out a JIV with all concerned regulatory agencies such as NOSDRA, DPR, Ministry of Environment and our community representatives as part of the JIV otherwise we will resist and constrain any attempt to carry out any repair on the Trunkline without adequate compensation of damage paid to our communities representatives “
Responding, the oil giant in its earlier reports to the oil spill debunked claims by the communities, saying “ CNL has investigated and continue to surveil its assets in the Abiteye field including the 16 Makaraba – Utonana – Abiteye Right of Way ( ROW) and confirmed that there has not been any oil spill from its assets in Abiteye and Utonana fields”
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