Oil Spill: Reps Directs Agip To Pay N400m Compensation To Delta Community

Ayodele Afolabi, Abuja – The House of Representatives has directed the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) to pay the sum of N400 million compensation to Umu-Eze Iwerrie community of Aboh in Ndokwa local government area of Delta state

The directive was sequel to the pollution caused by the oil giant ruptured gas pipelines.

The house therefore directed Agip oil to pay the sum through a unanimously adopted the motion sponsored by Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, drawing attention to the extensive environmental pollution caused by Agip gas pipelines on December 23-29, 2009.

Consequently, the House mandated its committees on environment and gas resources to investigate the claims made by the affected community and prevail upon the oil company to pay compensation demanded by the Umu-Eze Iwerrie community.

The House committees are expected to report back to the House within three weeks.

Ossai, while moving his motion, said even though Agip was notified about the leakages from its gas pipelines, the company negligently failed to clamp the damaged pipelines until six days after the incident.

He said further that the heavy and extensive emission polluted the environment and adversely affected the health of the people of the host community, many of whom were consequently hospitalized.

“The pollution damaged crops, surface water, marine life, roofs of houses, vegetation and also cause the death of hundreds of domestic and wild animals, as well as poultry”, the lawmaker added.

According to him, the post-impact assessment carried by officials of Delta state, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Agip and leaders of the host community on December 29, 2009, advised the oil firm to effect immediate repairs of the damaged pipelines and pay compensation to the host community.

He however expressed worry that Agip hasn’t only blatantly refused to pay the N400million compensation to the host community as a result of the pollution, but has backed out from further negotiating with the host community to reach an agreement on the payment of a fair compensation.