Oil Spillage: Delta Assembly Urges Okowa to Deplore Emergency and Relief Services to Odimodi Community

By Miracle Enuji

The Delta State House of Assembly in a resolution at its plenary today, May 24, 2018, urged the State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to as matter of urgency, activate emergency services and provision of relief materials through the relevant agencies to the distressed people of Odimodi Federated Communities in Burutu local Government Area of the State.

This call is coming on the sad development of an oil spillage currently ravaging the Niger Delta community as a result of breakdown of the Trans-Raymond Pipeline which links to the Forcados Terminal operated by Oil Giant, Shell Petroleum Development Commission (SPDC).

In a Matter of Urgent Public Importance brought before the House by the member representing Burutu 1 State Constituency, Hon. Daniel Yingi, he described the Oil Spillage as hazardous which has led to an unprecedented loss of revenue to the government, income to the people, scarcity of potable and industrial water, and the collapse of food source for the residents of 50 communities.

Oil Spillage in Odimodi Caused by Shell

Yingi prayed the House to urge His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr, Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa to as a matter of urgency, send relief materials to Odimodi Community in Burutu local Government Area that is being devastated by oil pollution occasioned by SPDC pipeline leakage presently causing emission of poisonous gas to the air space and have also destroyed farm lands, fish ponds, rivers, the source of drinking water and aquatic lives in the community bringing untold hardship, hunger and starvation.

The lawmaker specifically requested that the State Ministry of Health should without further delay, send medical team to the community to ascertain the health condition of the people as result of the poisonous gas being emitted to the airspace.

Hon. Yingi who doubles as the Chairman House Committee on Environment, Oil and Gas further sought the House to urge the State Governor to call on the appropriate authorities to prevail on SPDC to immediately clean the environment, remediate and restore it to its original state and also release the report of the Joint Investigation Venture (JIV) with a view to avoiding break down of law and order in the community.

While lending support to the matter raised by the lawmaker, Hon. Efe Ofobruku, member representing Uvwie Constituency said, “the lives of our employers; the electorates are in grave danger. The spill can lead to fire outbreak and can contribute to acidic rainfalls in the riverine areas. We should not allow Odimodi to turn into another Ogoni. Shell should be called to order, to sit up to its responsibilities.

Chief Daniel Yingi, Honourable Member Representing Burutu State 1 Constituency at DTHA

Hon. Johnson Erijo, member representing Isoko South 2 Constituency, while also calling for the immediate intervention of the State Government to save Odimodi community from the precarious situation, lashed out at the Federal Government who are yet to respond to the Spill, stressing that the slow response of the Federal Government, is worrisome.

Hon Kennedy Daubry, Hon. Daniel Mayuku and Hon. Preyor Oboro also lent their support to the motion.

The House unanimously adopted the prayers sought by Hon. Daniel Yingi and urged the State Governor to swiftly intervene in saving the lives of Deltans who are currently threatened by the Spill.