The Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, on Friday expressed displeasure with Eastern Exploration and Production Company, the operator of the NNPC/Aiteo Joint Venture on OML 29, over the oil firm’s failure to stop the oil spill at its Santa Barbara South field in the Nembe Local Government Area of the state, after the leak started on November 5.
Aiteo had in a statement on November 10 issued by its media contact, Matthew Ndiana, reported that “the magnitude of this incident is of an extremely high order.”
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Diri, who spoke through the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Ayibaina Duba, said he was disappointed that Aiteo had neglected to take any concrete steps since the leak, which allegedly resulted from equipment failure, was reported to it.
He wondered why Aiteo, an indigenous oil company, would allow the massive spill to continue, “leading to extensive pollution of the rivers, waterways and farmlands in the Nembe Local Government Area, even when the company’s management is aware of the situation.”
The governor said he was concerned that if the high volume of crude oil being spilled continuously was not curtailed immediately, it would spread to many more communities and undermine the economic life of residents who are predominantly farmers and fishermen.
He said he was particularly disappointed that the management of Aiteo had continued to play the Ostrich and was yet to shut-in its failed facility.
