Some weeks later after blocking and disrupting operations at the
logistic base of indigenous oil company, Aiteo, the OML 29 communities
in Bayelsa and Rivers States are still threatening the oil company.
The communities said they are grieved over continuous environmental
and health danger, they are exposed to by the operator’s activities.
Aiteo engages in gross abuse of environmental rules and regulations
and the communities will not allow what Shell did to Ogoni people to
repeat itself here, a source told this newspaper on telephone at the
weekend.
We inhale odour from gas leakages and oil spill and it is very bad for
our health. They have abused the rights of the people. We are ready to
drag the company before the National Assembly and the Presidency, the
source added.
In 2015, the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, divested its
equity in OML 29 and transferred its interest in the asset, including
the Nembe Creek Trunkline, NCTL, to Aiteo for $1.7 billion.
If Aiteo wants peace, let them contain occurrences of fatalities in
the communities. The gas explosions, oil spills, fire and all, we
don’t want our land to turn out like Ogoni, the source further stated.
He recalled that this year alone, oil spills from the Nembe Creek
Trunkline had caused two separate fire incidents in the communities,
with serious tolls on the people and the environment.
Calls put through to Aiteo’s spokesperson, Mr. Ndiana Matthew,
including text messages, were not responded.