TAKE ACTION ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, OIL COYS, GOVT TOLD

The leadership of youth groups in Gbaramatu Kingdom of Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State have appealed to the management of oil companies and government agencies to stop paying lip to the issue of environmental pollution.



President of Gbaramatu Youth Council, Comrade Sheriff Mulade made the appeal yesterday against the backdrop of face-off between some communities in the kingdom and management of Chevron Nigeria Limited over oil spillage.



It would be recalled that CNL and eight host and impacted communities in the kingdom are locked in conflict over oil spillage from the Otunana and Abiteye platforms of the oil company since August, 2008.



The possible causes of the spills are now a major subject of debate among both parties: while CNL attributed them to 3rd party intervention, Kokodiagbene and other communities insisted that they resulted from equipment failure.



However, Mulade yesterday insisted that CNL must “take proactive steps because various governments and companies have paid lip service to the issue of environmental pollution for so long. It has drastically degraded the ecosystem, reduced the soil quality, loss of organic matters, fishing rights, vegetation and economic impairment among others.”



He said it is imperative to note that the communities disagreement with Chevron over Utonana spill will not tear “us apart because we have a cordially relationship with Chevron.



He accused the company of outright neglect in spite of the cordial relationship, noting that its indigenes do not benefit from employment, contracts and other sundry benefits that should usually accrue to them as host.



Meanwhile, Mulade, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Monday, revealed that the Kokodiagbene and seven communities impacted by the oil spill have set up a 10-man non-exco to investigate the cause of the lingering issue.



He said the committee would carefully and thoroughly investigate to ascertain the root cause to end the lingering matter, adding that its report to be submitted to him in his capacity as General Secretary of Kokodiagbe, would determine the direction and further step to be taken by the communities.