“The impact this will have on the community in terms of livelihood is better imagined. And, I guess you didn’t notice any sign of fish, snail or other animals as you went round the bush. You might have heard the sound of some birds or monkeys, but that is because they are mostly on the tree tops; any of them that lands on the water will not survive again because of the thick volume of oil on the water. It is sad to note that we are having this from our neighbouring community. We have also experienced oil spills in recent times from ruptures on Agip pipeline within our own community environment. We have not even come out from the shock and loss from these ones that happened within our land. We cannot continue to suffer like this. How can we expect anything from impacted swamp again? We do engage in fishing, farming, logging and hunting from that impacted area. Now what do we do? ….”-H.R.H.Emmanual Kokorifa [paramount ruler of Okpotuwari]

GPS Coordinates: Elev: 8m, N 04°56.958’, E006°20.315’

INTRODUCTION:
Ogbunugbene is an Osiama Community in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. And like most of its neighbours, the community is settled along the Osiama Creek/River. Agip’s oil pipeline also traverses the community environment, linking the Ogboinbiri Flow Station. It is a small settlement of Ijaw people whose major economic activity is fishing, farming and hunting. On the above date, ERA’s field monitors decided to visit the environment, following serious complaint from neighbouring communities that that oil spill from Ogbunugbene has severely polluted their environment too, facilitated by the flood that has covered everywhere in the swamps/bush. These communities include: Umbugbene, Ondewari, and Okpotuwari. ERA’s visit confirms that the thick oil slick has spread beyond the immediate environment of Ogbunugbene to the common swamp from which these other communities went about their means of livelihood before the spill. After being led to the impacted swamps, testimonies were received from some leaders of the affected communities, including the paramount ruler of Ogbunugbene, Okpotuwari and Ondewari.


TESTIMONIES FROM COMMUNITY FOLKS
H.R.H.Emmanual Kokorifa [paramount ruler of Okpotuwari]
“The impact this will have on the community in terms of livelihood is better imagined. And, I guess you didn’t notice any sign of fish, snail or other animals as you went round the bush. You might have heard the sound of some birds or monkeys, but that is because they are mostly on the tree tops; any of them that lands on the water will not survive again because of the thick volume of oil on the water. It is sad to note that we are having this from our neighbouring community. We have also experienced oil spills in recent times from ruptures on Agip pipeline within our own community environment. We have not even come out from the shock and loss from these ones that happened within our land. We cannot continue to suffer like this. How can we expect anything from impacted swamp again? We do engage in fishing, farming, logging and hunting from that impacted area. Now what do we do? ….”

MRS SINDIO ALASUO [Ffrom Ondewari Community]
“…. You saw the thickness of the crude oil on the water. We have abandoned that area for now; what are we going there for again? Nothing at all. If nothing is done by the company until when the flood will begin to recede, the oil slick will come out to the main river too. Now it is settled and spreading only in the swamp because the water from the river is still rushing in through the rivulets. We are suffering too much from these oil spills. And, we cannot leave our environment to go and fish, farm or hunt in other people’s environment. That is why it is very painful…..”

MR.KEKE ZIWORITIN:
“… Before the crude oil economy our fathers used to make ends meet through their environmental resources. We also came up to continue that life, fishing, faming, and tapping palm wine, logging, carving and hunting. We have not actually gained anything from this oil under our soil which the companies have brought to the surface. Instead of all this, Agip should remove their oil pipelines from our environment let us remain like our fathers. Not long ago we lost our palm wine tapping camps and ponds because of oil spill. Now again, see the thickness of the crude oil on top of the water. And some of us have ponds here too. Tell me, which fish can survive here? And unless something is done urgently before the flood water recedes, this impacted environment might catch fire. If that happens, then we are sure that the destruction will be more than we have suffered in recent times. The best thing is for Agip to remove their pipes from our territory and go away…..”

MRS. PROFIT EBIKI
“…. We have seen too much of oil spills affecting our environment in recent times and, the situation is overwhelming. The swamps and other parts of the bush are the areas from which we earn our living from fishing and farming. We also hunt for snails and other animals in the bush as not everybody can afford to dive and obtain water snail as some of our youths do. I don’t know exactly how to put my words to get the desired effect from government or Agip. But, it is most desirable that something is done to clean up the impacted swamps. We cannot even go these anymore because, apart from the trees that are standing there, what else should attract us when even loggers can’t go and fell trees there because of fear of the crude oil. Yes, because whether logging or fishing in those areas, we often get into the water. Now you can’t try that; crude oil will cover the whole of your body...”

OBSERVATION/CONCLUSION
The fact that the people of the impacted communities are helpless was very obvious. The oil slick very visible on the water is not only very thick, but has covered a very large expanse of the swamp and impacted severely on the environment. Again, nobody was seen around the impacted area.  Fishing gears like traps were noticed along the path leading into the impacted sites but there was no sign of fish ostensibly due to the pollution the environment has suffered recently. Though the sounds of monkeys and other creatures were heard far away, everything remained still. And, as observed by Keke Ziworitin, if a careless spark is ignited the whole bush/swamp will burn down. Already those who had ponds in the area have lost hope of getting anything from them in the near future.
It was observed that apart from dry season when the swamps can be accessed by foot, one can only access the area now with small canoes going through very narrow and meandering rivulets.

ERA DEMANDS
1    Agip should take responsibility of ensuring the proper clean up of the impacted swamps immediately.
2    Community leaders in the impacted communities should be very alert to ensure that the spill in the impacted areas does not go aflame, considering the fact that it would be worse for the environment if there is fire.
3    The Federal Government should play an active role by ensuring the protection of the environment so as not to drive the rural folks who are struggling with other environmental challenges into the unemployment market. Even the city dwellers depend on these rural folks for most of our local foods, hence the need to ensure that Agip carry out proper cleanup and remediation of the impacted swamps in the communities mentioned above and any other so affected.
4    The Federal Government and Agip should apply best practices in addressing the concerns of host communities. The idea of not opening up channels of communication with host communities and shutting the doors against them may not be unconnected with such acts of alleged sabotage. There is need to change strategy for better community/ oil company relations in the oil producing areas.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
•    Send a letter to your legislator (Local Government, State and Federal) to call Agip to order.
•    Demand a cleanup of the swamps and farmlands affected by the slick from Agip facility
•    Write to Agip offices to demand it stop all leakages in their facility,  remediate impacted lands and pay compensation to community folks.
•    Contact NOSDRA in their offices below to intimate them of the spill

NOSDRA OFFICES

National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency
NAIC House 5th Floor Plot 590 Zone AO Central Business District
P.M.B 145 Garki, Abuja.
Tel: 09-461-8691-9
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Port Harcourt
33 King Perekule Street
GRA, Phase II, Port Harcourt
Rivers State.Tel: 084-465-517, 0803-330-1815
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Warri
17 Swamp Road
Off Esisi Road, GRA
P.M.B. 1150, Warri
Delta State.Tel: 053-251-651, 0805-792-7605,
0803-565-0495
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Lagos
King George IV Street,
Games Village
Off Bode Thomas Street,
Surulere Lagos State.

Tel:
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