Shell Gets Another Nigerian Headache

Another oil spill has been reported in Nigeria's Delta state in which several villages were seriously impacted. The spill occurred on Tuesday in some of the oil wells owned by the Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited (SPDC) that are located in the area.

The spill has sparked off a major controversy as the community has accused the management of Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited (SPDC) of allegedly setting the area on fire "in order to cover up the oil spill."

Nigeria's Environmental Commissioner, Mr. George Ugbomah who led a team of his ministry staff on a visit to the area, confirmed to reporters that "there was an oil spill" and expressed regret that the oil spill has not been properly cleaned up. He further expressed displeasure over the failure of management of the company to report the oil spill to his ministry on time.

Briefing the Commissioner during the visit, President-General of the Oviri-Olomu community, Mr. James Omoravwon accused SPDC of allegedly setting the impacted area on fire in order to cover up the spillage. He noted that "both the spill and the burning of the site have caused a lot of damage to the ecology of the affected areas". The community leader has therefore demanded that experts be sent by SPDC to test the soil of the affected areas inxorder to ascertain the extent of damage. And in addition, according to him, "adequate compensation should be made to the community."

Also speaking, an official of the SPDC, Mr. Oputu Sherick who was on hand to receive the Commissioner absolved the company from the burning of the spill site, saying that the burning of the site was carried out by some undisclosed persons who felt aggrieved.