The motion sponsor said oil spillage has affected homes, farmlands, and also polluted streams in Ogale, Aleto, Akpajo, Agbonchia, Onne, Okpaku and Alesa Communities in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State
The House of Representatives tasked the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Nigerian Oil Spill Detection Response Agency (NOSDRA), and the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) to immediately commence the cleanup of recent Oil Spillage in affected communities in Rivers State.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Rep. Felix Uche Nwaeke (PDP, Rivers) during Wednesday’s plenary.
Moving the motion, Nwaeke noted that in the past three weeks, there has been a series of oil spillages in Ogale, Eteo, Aleto, Akpajo, Agbonchia, Okpaku and Alesa Communities in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.
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He also noted that the spill is from several points of a facility operated by the NNPC/SPDC/Total Energies/NAOC Joint Venture in the Eleme- Ogoni axis of Rivers State.
The lawmakers further expressed concern that the spillage affected residential houses, farmlands, streams, and surrounding waters in the communities and left the people stranded as their homes and farms are covered in crude oil.
“Worried that if nothing is done to stop these recurring spillages as well as clean up the environment immediately, the people will suffer severe hardship owing to the loss of their farmlands, crops, homes and water sources.”
In his ruling, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas mandated the Committee on Host Communities (when constituted) to investigate the cause of the recurring oil spillage in the affected communities with a view to proffering lasting solutions to the problem.
The Committee was also mandated to report back within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.
