Location: Obama Flow station, Nembe LGA, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Summary
A spill at the Obama Flow Station has led to the destruction of the environment and means of livelihood of the affected people in over ten communities. The spill occurred on 10 September 2007.

Crude oil from the flow station now floats on the Tereke River in Nembe / Ogbia Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State, including adjoining creeks. Dead fish and wilting vegetation line river banks.

A delegation of the Bayelsa State Government, led by the secretary to the State Government, Hon. Dr. Bolere Ketebu-Nwokeafor, visited affected communities in the last week of September, 2007 and promised relief materials amongst others. The State National Emergency Management Authority boss also promised to send report to appropriate quarters to secure relief for victims.

The severe impact has led to an exodus of community people from the area.

Daily Independent Newspapers
Director of the Department off Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr Tony Chukwueke, who declared government’s position at the recent international Conference of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) in Abuja , made it clear that operating companies that defy the directive would come under severe sanctions.

As part of the broad national aspirations in the upstream petroleum industry, government had set 2008 as the deadline for operators to achieve zero flares at production sites.