NGO urge govt, global community to address environmental crisis in Rivers community

By Abubakar Yunusa

The non-governmental organization, Kabetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, has called on governments at all levels, the global community, oil regulatory agencies, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), and relevant stakeholders to take urgent action to address the environmental crisis of air pollution and biodiversity loss in the Ibaa and Obelle communities in Emohua local government area, as well as the Aminigboko community in Abua/Odual local government area.

This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the founder and Chief Executive Director of Kabetkache, Dr. Emem Okon; Hon. Henry Eferegbo of Obette Community; January S. Igama of Aminigboko community; and Princewil Chikakpobi of Ibaa Community, Emouha LGA of Rivers State. The statement was shared with journalists in Abuja in commemoration of World Press Day.

They said there is a threat to sustainable development in the Niger Delta. The environmental crises of air pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change have become significant challenges for people and communities.

In view of this, Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre, along with her allied organizations, presents the environmental pollution issues in Ibaa and Obelle communities in Emohua local government area and Aminigboko community in Abua/Odual local government area.

In 2016, people in the Chukwure family compound discovered that their hand-dug well was filled with crude oil instead of water as it had been producing until that fateful period.

According to the statement, the case was reported to Shell, the corporation carrying out activities in the locality. The family has been worried and concerned about their fate living amidst such levels of pollution.

The statement reads: “Part of Shell’s response to advocacy efforts to get justice for the family is to seal off the affected well. A visit to the site on May 2nd, 2024, showed that some families still live with the pollution. The family wants to be relocated to somewhere safe and secure, and compensation paid for damages suffered by family members so far.

“The Obelle community of Emuoha Local Government Area, Rivers State, is one of the sites where Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) carries out its oil extraction activities.

“In 1998, the well-4 head operated by Shell erupted with a gas fire, burning over thirty hectares of land in the community for about three months. After burning for some weeks, SPDC added some chemicals to control it.

“The chemicals were washed into the community’s aquifer, resulting in impacts on people’s health and their source of livelihood.

“The only solution offered by SPDC was to acquire these lands without alternative provision for farming. There was no compensation made to the community, and the people have suffered untold hardship due to insufficient land for farming activities, with women being the worst hit in terms of displacement.

“Cases of environmental pollution are also reported in Aminigboko community, where the environmental impact assessment is under contention by community members.

“The issues have been reported to the Dutch National Contact Point, which intervened and made recommendations. The company has outrightly refused to address the issues since February 10th, 2023, when the recommendation was made.

“Kebetkache in 2022 conducted an environmental and socio-economic assessment in Ibaa community, and the key findings from the field revealed widespread crude oil contamination in the seven groundwater and four soil samples covering a radius of about 6KM, based on the risk associated with undue exposure to crude oil contamination.

“The assessment recommended, as an emergency measure, that the impacted families and others within 1500m across the pipeline right-of-way be relocated to safe locations within the community, provision of safe drinking water for the community, and the rectification of the cause of the leakage, in addition to other long-term remedies.

“Kebetkache is, therefore, using this medium to call on the government, the global community, SPDC, regulatory agencies, and relevant stakeholders to take urgent action to address these issues.