Tension in Bayelsa communities over oil, gas spills

[Mirror]

Tension is heightening in Koluama 1 and 2 in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State following reported oil and gas spills from the Funiwa oilfield of Chevron Nigeria Limited.

It was gathered that a team of engineers have begun fixing the leakages.

Sources told National Mirror that the spills, which occurred barely a month ago, are causing discomfort among residents of both communities as they are threatening to protest the incident.

The sources said that Chevron had exhausted 250 bags of cement to curtail the spills, but the effort seems to have failed to yield desired result.

A gas explosion occurred at Chevron's K.S. Endeavour located offshore Koluama on January 16, 2011 forcing the rig to shut down operations for over four months.

The General Secretary, Federated Youth Organisation of Koluama Kingdom, Mr. Ebrasin Leghemo, said that the incessant gas and oil spills in the locality had caused untold hardship to the residents.

Leghemo said the residents could no longer embark on fishing as a result of the spills.

The secretary said: "If the trend is not check by the government and relevant agencies, it may bring about youth restiveness as claims put before Chevron in last year's gas explosion in K.S Endeavour and fire incident in January 16, 2012 have not been paid to the claimants, yet another spills have occurred."

Leghemo, however, urged the state Ministry of the Environment and other relevant stakeholders to prevail upon Chevron to investigate the possible cause of the incessant spills and embark on measures to prevent subsequent incidents.

However, several efforts to reach the company's Policy Government and Communities Relations Manager, Femi Odumabo, were not successful.

National Mirror