Chevron fire: Federal govt, multinationals urged to step in
PORT HARCOURT: FEDERAL government and multinational oil firms have been told to quickly come to the aid of communities affected by the recent fire from Chevron facility in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa state.
Coordinator of a nongovernmental organisation, National Coalition of Gas Flaring and Oil Spills in the Niger Delta, NACGOND, Mr Inemo Samiama who made the appeal at a news parley in Port Harcourt said it was disturbing that several days after the sad occurrence, no official from the federal government and the multinational oil giant had visited the affected communities.
According to him, there was urgent need for the government and multinationals to step in to address the impact of the fire on communities along the shorelines.
“We are aware that no Chevron or Nigerian government official has visited any of the communities to provide information, assurances or taken any action to allay the fears or concerns of the people.
“This is unacceptable. It demonstrates a lack of respect and consideration for the impoverished and long suffering communities living in the neighborhood of the burning lake in the vicinity of Chevron’s oil and gas facility.
“We call on the federal government to make an immediate assessment of the situation and to mount a vigorous response to attenuate the consequence of the fire.
“From fields visited to the site by NACGOND members, it is obvious that the situation is grave and that the environment and livelihoods are already grossly impacted,” he said.
Samiama stated that even at the time of the media interaction, the fire was still raging and called for proper assessment of the situation
“We are concerned that Chevron is playing down the gravity of the situation. The impact of this fire must be monitored and the information made available to ensure that both the environment and livelihood of the fishers and other local dependent populations are adequately compensated.”
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