Oil Spillages: OML 150 Impacted Communities Give ConOil seven Days to Fix Abandoned Oil Wells, Stop Spills

Affected communities, under OML 150 in Warri riverine communities, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, have given ConOil Nigeria Limited, seven days ultimatum to immediately fix abandoned crude oil wells in their area and halt spillages that have negatively affected aquatic and human life.

Our Principal Correspondent, reports that the ultimatum was handed down Monday December 22, by indigenes of Uwakeno, Atu, Ewekwara, Efueye, and Igheghe Communities, during a peaceful protest held at Uwakeno community.

People of the aggrieved host communities, carried placards with inscriptions such as: "Fix the wellheads and protect our environment," "Tantita has done their part, ConOil, over to you," "Neglect today, loss tomorrow; ConOil, act now," "Our fathers and mothers cannot fish and farm again, because of ConOil neglect."

Community indigenes, such as Prince Monday Omagbemi from Ewekwara, Obah Michael Weyinmi, Frank Ortisetsolube Efueye, Yemi Silo, and Afotan Maxwell, who spoke during the protest, accused ConOil of encouraging spillage in the wells, saying abandonment of their facilities, allows for economic sabotage.

Photo-Grid: (pix 1) Obah Michael Weyinmi speaking, while Afotan Maxwell & others observe (pix 2) Ortseyemi Silo

They showered encomium on Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited for coming to their aid, as it relates to pressuring the federal government to order ConOil to fix the abandoned oil wells across the Opumami field.

According to the host communities, the oil field seems too big for ConOil to handle; hence the perceived neglect of the wells, numbering over 95.

The General Coordinator of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (Itsekiri Cluster), Barr. Esimaje Awani, who led his team to the oil spill-impacted communities on Monday December 22, expressed deep worry that ConOil could allow its wells to be neglected without doing anything about it.

According to him, the responsibility of Tantita Security Services is to provide security and not to maintain wellhead installations of oil companies, noting that they have been trying to reach out to ConOil to meet its obligations by coming to carry out maintenance on their oil wellheads, but the company has yet to respond.

Barr. Esimaje Awani, fielding questions from Newsmen at the spot of the affected communities

Barr. Awani, described the situation as economic sabotage orchestrated by ConOil, calling on the federal government to prevail on ConOil to put an end to the spillages in the area, to save the people and the environment.

The legal practitioner cum oil and gas industry stakeholder, opined that it’s only wellheads operated by ConOil that such oil spills occur.

The Itsekiri Cluster Coordinator, said they used temporary measures to stop the spillages from causing further havoc, but the pressure from the oil wells, frustrate the palliative measures.  

Barr. Awani, commended the Itsekiri impacted communities for being peaceful and law-abiding, assuring them that they will continue to mount pressure on ConOil to do the needful.

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