Following the oil spill in Iloma Community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, the Bonny Environmental Consultants Committee (BECC) says the oil spill has spread to adjoining communities and water bodies and severely impacted vegetation, aquatic life, and livelihoods.

BECC in a statement signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Professor Ibitoru Hart, and Sir Amairigha Hart, respectively, and made exclusively available to Kristina Reports highlighted the damages done by the spillage including; damaged vegetation and farmlands, poisoned fishing areas and damaged roads leading to a halt in the lives of members of the impacted communities.

The statement explained that the oil spill has affected not just Iloma Community but also Minima, Ayaminima, Orupiri, Oloma, Epelema, Oguede, Coconut Estate, Okpoma, Burukiri, and nearby areas.

The committee also noted that tides have spread the oil to far flung communities such as Greens Iwoama, Banigo Ishileogono, Polokiri, Dema Abbey, Macaulay, Oroigwe, Madupolo, Dappa-Posie, Igonipolo, Akiama, George Pepple, Allison Ishileogono, Amalgamated Agbalama, William Jumbo, Otobie, and Abalamabie, among others.

A portion of the letter is shared below:

“STATEMENT ON OIL SPILL AT ILOMA COMMUNITY

The attention of the Bonny Environmental Consultants Committee (BECC) has been brought to an incident of oil spill on a pipeline along the pipeline right of way at latitude 4.447338⁰ and longitude 7.192392⁰, in Iloma Community and wishes to state as follows:

1. The Bonny Environmental Consultants Committee (BECC) hereby confirms that an oil spill has occurred at Iloma Community.
2. BECC has taken note of the impact site and affected sites of the oil spill including the primary area of impact, Iloma Community, and adjoining communities, Minima, Ayaminima, Orupiri, Oloma, Epelema, Oguede, Coconut Estate, Okpoma, and Burukiri, amongst others.
3. BECC has taken note of the spread of the spilled crude engendered by tidal movement to even far-flung communities such as Greens Iwoama, Banigo Ishileogono, Polokiri, Dema Abbey, Macaulay, Oroigwe, Madupolo, Dappa-Posie, Igonipolo, Akiama, George Pepple, Allison Ishileogono, Amalgamated Agbalama, William Jumbo, Otobie, and Abalamabie, amongst others.
4. BECC is currently monitoring tidal movements that are conveying the spilled crude oil from the primary impact area to more communities connected to the main creek from Coal Beach to which the Iloma, Epelema, Minima, and other communities’ creeks connect to.
5. BECC has taken note of the several hectares of farmlands, verdant vegetation, and fishing areas comprising creeks, rivers, rivulets and waterfronts severely impacted by the spilled crude oil. For instance, Epelema, Iloma, Orupiri, Minima, Ayaminima, and Oguede have now been rendered inaccessible by outboard-powered engine boats due to the high volume of crude oil on the water. No fishing activities can also happen in any of those areas.
6. BECC has also taken cognizance of the forests around the impacted communities that were splashed with crude oil when the pipeline burst open. This vegetation will be dead in a couple of days, just as the soil underneath cannot be cultivated due to pollution.
7. BECC is also in the process of checking out the range of aquatic life comprising fishes and other sea foods that have been destroyed due to the spill. These include the tilapia, croaker, mud fish, periwinkles, oysters, crabs, reptiles, etc.
8. BECC has also inspected the incidented pipeline and taken note of the flange on it, the surrounding environment, equipment on site, range of spill, and also spoken to locals on the incident and has reason to believe that the incident was a third party orchestrated incident.
9. BECC notes with displeasure that the NNPCL either by itself or through its subsidiary would send a maintenance team to Iloma Community without any form of engagement with BECC or the impacted communities. This is a recipe for crisis as it smacks of disregard for Bonny Kingdom, which BECC environmentally represents.
10. BECC instantly calls on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to activate containment and remedial measures to checkmate further devastation and take responsibility for the evacuation of Bonny indigenes around the impacted areas both immediate and remote.
11. BECC further calls on the NNPCL to immediately engage with it to fashion out a strategy plan for containment, clean-up and compensation to the impacted and affected communities.
12. BECC commends the security agencies, the 146 Battalion Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base for their proactive initiative of asserting security governance around the impacted sites to forestall further encroachments and exposure to danger.
13. BECC also calls on the people of Bonny in the various impacted and affected communities to remain calm as measures are being taken to remedy the situation. The leaders of the various communities are called upon to interface with BECC to agree on the engagement plan for the resolution of this unfortunate incident.
14. BECC discountenances any attempt by residents of Bonny LGA to scoop the crude oil from the rivers and creeks around and warns vehemently against any such act as it is very dangerous given the inflammatory nature of crude oil.

BECC remains vigilant to ensure the Bonny environment is protected and preserved from pollution and degradation. We will also continue to proactively engage with relevant stakeholders to address environmental concerns according to extant regulations and global best practices.”

The committee reiterated its commitment to protecting and preserving the Bonny environment from pollution and damage. They also highlighted their plans to maintain proactive engagement with key stakeholders as this would help address environmental issues, in line with existing regulations and global best practices