The member representing Sapele/Okpe/Uvwie federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Chief Efe Afe, has called for the clean-up of oil spillage in communities in the federal constituency.
He also demanded compensation on behalf of the affected communities, alleging that the oil spillage occurred from an indigenous oil firm’s well head in some communities under Sapele and Okpe local government areas in the Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie federal constituency of Delta State.
The house had raised concern on the oil spill during its plenary on April 6, when a motion on the issue was moved by Afe.
The lawmaker alleged that the oil spill started in February, 2022 and was reported on March 1.
Afe informed the house that the spillage could have been averted if the said company had not breached the environmental compliance guidelines as stipulated by ISO 14001 which mandated all licence holders’ operators, serving companies to adopt a systematic and integrated management plan discharge to the environment.
He listed the communities affected by the spill in Okpe and Sapele Local Aovernment Areas to include Ekokor 1, Ekokor 2, Eriama, Oporaja, Egborode, Mereje, Eroghor, Egikporo and Amuokpokpor.
Others were Amuogbogbo, Opuraja Eriama, Kpokpogri, Elume, Ologho, Deghele, Okwuvo, Kwele-Bra and Adagarasa Elume.
He lamented that the livelihood of the people had been affected, stressing that the oil spill affected the farms and rivers in their communities.
The lawmaker further alleged that the said company had refused to carry out a clean-up exercise thereby causing more harm to the people.
Afe urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and the said oil company to be involved in the clean-up and compensate the affected victims.
The House mandated its Committee on Upstream and Environment to visit the areas to assess the environmental impact and report back to the House within four weeks.
The House of Representatives also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send relief materials to the affected communities to cushion the effects of the spillage.
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“Absolutely, When we came with the Buhari government in 2015 I became the minister. We were committed to a roadmap to establish a National Carrier, to concession the airports, to set up a leasing company, to establish cargo facilities and we have been doing that.”
On why the Buhari government wanted a national carrier, the minister responded: “Nigeria is situated at the centre of Africa, equidistant from all locations in Africa. 30.4 million square kilometres miles, 1.5 billion people, very green land. If Central and Eastern Africa is the belt of the continent, then Nigeria is the buckle. 200 million people and rising middle class, propensity to fly is high. Nigeria is a candidate for National Carrier.”
Sirika who insisted that the coming national carrier will be private sector driven added; “Private. Yes. 5 per cent government and no government stepping right in that company, no government control, no membership of government on board. Totally private and committed.
“Whatever we say we will do as a government since 2015, it has happened. that is why Tim Clark of Emirates, Qatar Airways and all of them are looking to go into Nigeria in multiple frequencies and multiple landing points because Nigeria is the right place for the airline business.
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