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Minister’s Unannounced visit to Agip Base in Bayelsa a Mere Publicity Stunt
Location: Nigerian Agip Oil Company [NAOC] Base, Twon-Brass, Brass local government area.
Date of Visit: 16th October, 2014
INTRODUCTION:
Agip has several facilities in Bayelsa State. They include oil wells, pipelines, manifolds and flowstations. Most of the crude oil from the company’s swamp area are channeled to Twon- Brass, a community on the fringes of the Atlantic Ocean. Agip’s highest facility a tank farm and export terminal are in that vicinity. It would be recalled that, although there are several reported cases of oil spills from the company’s facilities in Bayelsa State, there was a major operational failure and spill incident at the Brass Terminal loading point on 27th November, 2013. Information at ERA/FoEN’s disposal indicates that Agip paid some money to impacted communities to take care of relief and recently paid another N24 million (twenty four million naira) to communities such as Odioama in connection with the 27th November, 2013 spill.
For quite some time some concerned citizens of Twon-Brass have expressed concern about the crude oil pollution along the Agip canal around the community. This canal runs through the Agip premises into the Brass River and eventually empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The Bayelsa State ministry of environment also, very recently expressed concern on the condition of the canal in question, especially as it concerns the release of effluents from Agip [crude oil inclusive] into the flowing body of water. In the light of the above, it was not really surprising for ERA/FoEN to be alerted on the night of Wednesday, 15th October, 2014 that the Minister of Environment Mrs. Lawrencia Labara-Malla was to visit Agip’s Brass facility the next day.
Press Release
Shell has hijacked UNEP report implementation process, ERA/FoEN Alleges
The inauguration of a committee for the implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland is a welcome development but with the Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke in the driver’s seat, Shell has obviously hijacked the process, the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has alerted.
Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, who inaugurated the Committee, said the move is part of government’s efforts to seek an enduring solution to the issue. The 14-member Committee is to propose a focused engagement and implementation plan with clearly defined steps and is also mandated to advise the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) Advisory Council on the manner in which assets and funds of the project may be held and utilised.
But ERA/FoEN in a statement issued in Lagos said that the minister’s involvement in the process and the inclusion of HYPREP in the exercise clearly makes a mockery of the demands of the Ogoni and civil society groups as clearly spelt out in the UNEP report.
Headliners
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Court documents expose Shell’s false claims on Nigeria oil spills: Shell Responds
Thursday, 13th November 2014
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Take Action Vote the Nominee of the Sustainable Development Pinocchio Awards
Thursday, 6th November 2014
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A Joint Statement issued to the United Nations Human Rights Commission, UNHRC
Wednesday, 25th June 2014
Oil Politics
What is on that Plate?
The theme of the World Environment Day 2013 is “Think. Eat. Save”. Each word is loaded and stands alone, separated by unambiguous periods. That should get us thinking indeed. Many people in the world do not really think before eating. They are more preoccupied by the nagging question of where the next meal would come from. There are also a number of persons whose questions pertain to what to eat out of the myriad of choices on their sumptuous dining tables. And, of course, there are people to whom saving food is not a problem while to yet others there is simply no choice in doing that. There are others who wish to save but cannot do so either due to a lack of means to do so, or for the reason of current insufficiencies.
There is a lot of food for thought in just considering the theme.
ERA has recently received information that a group calling itself the "Niger Delta Coalition in the Diaspora" is still engaging itself in activities and communications giving the impression that it is linked with Environmental Rights Action (ERA).
This group issues out communications using ERA's headquarter address and mail box. We have never had any ties with this group and any views, comments or opinions expressed by them is not endorsed or authorized by any member of management or staff of ERA.
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