…As NDC promises disruption of further oil exploration in the region
The Niger Delta Congress (NDC) may have begun moves to mobilise people of the Niger Delta region of the country to renew armed struggle by shutting down all oil exploration activities in the region.
The latest move, the group said, followed “the increasing pollution of the Niger Delta and the gradual change of our environment” and the alleged plan by the Federal Government to announce the commencement of a Marginal Bid Round for 57 oil fields in the region.
In a statement the NDC issued on Monday by acting spokesperson of the group, Adokiye Oyagiri, it warned “those who would be tempted to partake that they do so at their own risk as the Niger Delta will resist any attempt to mine oil from our land using whatever means available to us.”
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The statement read, “The Niger Delta Congress wishes to draw the attention of the world to the increasing pollution of the Niger Delta and the gradual change of our environment into what can be called a densely inhabited Chernobyl.
“The destruction of our ecosystem has gone on unhindered for over five decades, but has become more brazen in recent times despite the consequences on the health and livelihood of the different nationalities that call the region home.
“In 2020 alone which is barely six months gone, the Niger Delta peoples have reported numerous events bordering on environmental pollution brought about by oil exploration activities involving both local and international operators in the region.
“In January 2020, a leaking gas pipeline belonging to the NLNG in the Rumuji axis of Rivers State exploded, killing at least 6 farmers who had gone to prepare their farms for the new planting season while also spewing toxic gases into the atmosphere.
“Since February 2020, dead fishes have been washing ashore coastal communities in the region in large quantities.
“This has been revealed to be caused by heavy metals in the waters surrounding the region which can also be linked to activities involving oil exploration in the region as has been noted by environmental groups in the region such as Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF).
“In March 2020, an oilfield operated by the Shell exploration company in Angiama community in Bayelsa State saw the discharge of over 45,000 barrels of crude oil into the environment for which Shell has carried out very poor remediation work while claiming 43 barrels as the quantity of crude spilled into the environment.
“In May 2020, equipment failure was recorded at Odeama wellhead flow-line spilling thousands of barrels of crude into the environment.
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“Also in May 2020, equipment failure at Agip-owned Cough Creek-Tedidaba pipeline in Olugbobiri in Bayelsa led to the discharge of thousands of barrels of crude, destroying the creek where it is located.
“Another equipment failure from an Agip-owned facility inEwoama/Okpoama in Bayelsa was recorded, also leading to crude discharge into the environment.
“Also in May, the Niger Delta Congress reported a fire incident at Ororo OML 95 in Ondo State operated by Guarantee Petroleum which discharged hydrocarbons into the sea, polluting the main source of food and protein for the Niger Delta communities downstream.
“Also in May, a gas leak at an NLNG plant was reported in the Bonny axis of Rivers State.
“This list of events is not exhaustive, as the Niger Delta Congress is aware of the oil exploration companies’ mode of operation: hiding these spills and gas leaks when they do occur, in connivance with the security agencies and government officials who have no stake in the Niger Delta environment.
“Despite all these, the Nigerian government has gone on to announce the commencement of a Marginal Bid Round for 57 oil fields in the Niger Delta.
“It should be noted that the Niger Delta peoples are not in support and do not approve of the auctioning of our resources.
“We are aware that the announced bidding process is just another means to enrich the elites of the major ethnic groups of this country at our expense, since very few Niger Deltans can be said to have the means to partake in it.
“The Niger Delta peoples wish to inform those who would be tempted to partake that they do so at their own risk as the Niger Delta will resist any attempt to mine oil from our land using whatever means available to us.
“The Niger Delta Congress wishes to inform the world that the ethnic nationalities of the Niger Delta are being slowly but steadily poisoned to death by activities of international oil companies and their local Joint Venture partners, in collaboration with their foreign home governments and the major ethnic groups of the Nigerian state who have no stake in our environment and care not for our very existence.
“In doing so, the Niger Delta peoples are being left with no option than to take drastic measures to ensure our very survival which might culminate in the shutting down of all oil exploration activities in the region.
“The Niger Delta peoples are by this statement encouraged to begin to organise themselves in accordance with this purpose, under the umbrella of the NDC. Further information will be given in due time.”
