Aja-Olukpodu laments eight-year-old spill, berates Conoil, NOSDRA

Leaders of Aja-Olukpodu, a community that prides itself as one of the host communities of OML 150, have lamented eight-year old crudeoil spill in Conoil facility, berating the company’s management and National Oil Spill Detection Response Agency, NOSDRA, over failure to halt the spill and clean up the damage.

Our Co-Publisher/Managing Editor, reports that the community leaders, who vented their anger and frustration Thursday August 6, during a peaceful protest at the site of the oil spill, appealed to the Federal, Delta State and Warri South Local Governments as well as The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, to immediately intervene, saying they have not been able to carry out their fishing occupation, since 2018 when the oil spill reportedly started.

Whilst the Olare-Aja of Aja-Olukpodu, Pa Ajueyitsi Stephen Metsese, stressed the need for the relevant authorities to race to the community’s aid to alleviate their suffering, Chairman of the Community, Mr. Otos Omereyemi, revealed that the spill, had prevented indigenes of the Itsekiri community from digging wells where they can get water for domestic use, due to pollution caused by the oil spill.

A cross section of indigenes of Aja-Olukpodu community. L-R: Mr. Agbokura Omereyemi, Okpeyo Tagbajumi, Pa Ajueyitsi Stephen, incent Etan, Omawumi Joseph & Mrs. Alero Atete

Mr. Omereyemi, appealed to the Delta State and Warri South Local Governments to assist them with relief materials and prevail on the management of Conoil to do same as well as halt the spill.

According to him, efforts made by the community, including correspondences to Mr. Mike Adenuga, NOSDRA and Delta State Government, to get Conoil and NOSDRA, to address the years of crude oil spill, have been futile.

This Flagship Niger Delta Digital Newspaper, can report that the Vice Chairman of Aja-Olukpodu, Mr. Omawumi Joseph, Secretary of the community, Mr. Vincent Etan, the Youth Chairman, Mr. Aboyowa Tagbajumi and the Woman leader, Mrs. Gloria Amusheke, while speaking in the same vein, stated that the spill affects over 30 Itsekiri Communities.

Pa Ajueyitsi Stephen (4^th left, clad in white top) alongside some indigenes of the community, during the protest

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