Obololi Community Crippled By Shell Oil Spill, Accuses Company Of Neglect

The Obololi community in Bayelsa State is reeling from the effects of an oil spill that occurred on February 16th, accusing Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of negligence and a lack of adequate response.

The spill, originating from a 16-inch underwater pipeline operated by SPDC, has polluted the Obololi River and surrounding creeks, leaving the community facing severe water scarcity and economic hardship amidst a cholera outbreak in the state.

Goodnews Okoi, Chairman of the Obololi Community Development Committee (CDC), stated that the community’s primary source of drinking water has been contaminated, forcing residents to rely on expensive sachet water.

The cost has reportedly increased by 100%, reaching ₦50 per sachet and ₦800 per bag, placing a significant strain on already struggling households.

Fishing, a vital source of livelihood, has also been severely impacted, with farmlands and creeks affected by the pollution.

“We feel abandoned,” Okoi lamented in a telephone interview. The operator of the facility has not shown any concern for the suffering caused by the spill.

” SPDC says they won’t act until the Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) concludes its investigation into equipment failure.”

While the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has traced the spill’s source and recommended diverting the river to access the leak point, the community expresses concern about the navigability of the river, crucial for transporting goods and essential supplies.

Okoi emphasised the need for SPDC to consider the community’s concerns and implement a more humane approach to the remediation process.

Despite ongoing crude recovery efforts, the community criticises the lack of support from both SPDC and the Bayelsa State government.

While the local government chairman pledged to repair an existing borehole, the effort has been hampered by equipment failure.

A visit from the Bayelsa Commissioner for Environment has yet to yield any tangible relief.

SPDC spokesperson Michael Adande confirmed that the oil feed to the leaking pipeline has been shut down and pledged to provide updates on relief and remediation efforts, but these updates are yet to materialise.

The Obololi community continues to suffer the consequences of the spill, highlighting the urgent need for immediate and effective action from both SPDC and the relevant authorities.