Communities call for sanctions against NNPC, Petitions Federal government for oil spillage

Some riverine communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, have filed a petition with the Director-General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) regarding the Nigerian Pipelines Storage Company Limited (NPSC) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). They allege that these companies have been negligent and unresponsive in cleaning up an oil spill that occurred on August 10, 2024.

The communities are calling for immediate sanctions against both companies and are demanding daily compensation for failing to report and address the spill, which has impacted various local communities, including Oporoza and Okpele-Ama/Tebujor, among others. They argue that enforcing penalties would deter other corporations in the oil and gas sector from similar violations.

The oil spill affected the environment and local livelihoods, with claims that NPSC/NNPC did not report the spill within the legally mandated 24-hour period and instead attempted to repair the site without a joint investigation or proper cleanup. The petition states that the use of unapproved dispersants has worsened environmental damage, harming both agricultural and aquatic resources.

The petition details the timeline of events following the spill, noting that despite an initial visit by NOSDRA officials on September 2, 2024, the joint investigation remains incomplete. The communities expressed frustration over NPSC’s failure to collaborate with them and regulatory agencies to resolve the situation.

They highlight serious impacts on their livelihoods, including the inability to fish and health hazards arising from the spill, while their water sources have been contaminated. They emphasize that NPSC’s actions violate the NOSDRA Act, which mandates timely reporting and cleanup of spills.

The petitioners demand that NPSC and NNPCL be sanctioned under the NOSDRA Act, specifically seeking penalties of N500,000 and N1,000,000 for each day of non-compliance since the spill date. They also insist that both companies must clean up the affected areas and provide fair compensation to the impacted communities.