AGIP OIL STORAGE EXPLOSION: IMO GOVT. TO WORK WITH NESREA TO EVALUATE EFFECTS OF OIL SPILLAGE

Imo State government, not resting on its oars to ensure the preservation of the health of its citizenry, has called on National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency to evaluate the level of pollution in the Ohaji-Egbema communities caused by the hydro carbon vapour occasioned by the explosion of crude oil storage facilities of AGIP in Rivers State.

This move was made known by the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere when he paid a working visit to Director General of NESREA at their Abuja headquarters recently.

Addressing the Director General of the Agency, Dr. Lawrence Anukam and other Directors, Prince Madumere explained he had personally paid a verification visit on behalf Governor Okorocha to the areas affected. He said he visited major affected areas like Obokofia River, Mmahu and other communities in Egebma, where he confirmed the pollution of their waters, vegetation and other natural resources especially the major source of their portable water. He observed that the unfortunate event also had dangerous effect on properties worth millions of naira and other areas that could affect the health of the people.

It will be recalled that on June 28, 2014 two explosions rocked a facility belonging to Agip Oil Exploration Company in Ebocha community, Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. The said explosions were blamed on usage of obsolete equipment and mechanical faults. This did not only affect the immediate environment where the incidence took place but also affected Imo neighbouring communities in Ohaji-Egbema Local government area.

He therefore called on the management of NESREA to partner with Imo State government for accurate assessment of the affected areas to know the extent of damage and come up with a corresponding solution to save the aquatic life of the affected communities, the property affected, and health of the indigenes to avoid regrettable future effects of the impact.

He stressed the need for the indigenes of the affected communities in Egbema to heed to the advice to neither fetch water nor fish from the affected rivers and streams.

In his response, the Director General of NESREA thanked Imo Deputy Governor, Prince Madumere for making out time to come on his own. He said it smacks of responsible and responsive government, which takes the welfare of her people seriously.
He therefore promised to bring their expertise into the matter and in other areas of interests in due course.

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