Bayelsa governor Douye Diri has set up an 11-man committee to see to the recent oil spill at Santa Barbara River wellhead in Nembe Local Government Area of the state.

The pollution at the OML 29, operated by Aiteo Exploration and Production Company Limited, had a blowout of gas and crude oil that lasted about 38 days before it was capped.

Consequently, the state government on Wednesday in Yenagoa inaugurated the committee headed by the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Biriyai Dambo (SAN).

The governor’s Special Assistant, Tariotu Lugard, will serve as  secretary.

The committee has the mandate to work with relevant agencies of the federal government and to embark on a joint investigation visit to the affected site towards ascertaining the extent of the damage caused by the incident.

It was also mandated to take action for the commencement of remediation and clean-up of the environment as well as meet with affected communities with a view to providing adequate compensation.

Mr Diri charged the committee  to work according to its terms of reference in the interest of the people of the state. 

He said members were selected based on their pedigree in various fields  and should not compromise in their duty to ensure justice for the people and their environment.

“I am sure you will do everything according to your terms of reference; to bring justice to our people and to ensure that our environment and our ecology will not be tampered with at the whims of anybody no matter how highly placed,” the governor charged. “This is the first time in the history of oil and gas exploration in Bayelsa, specifically in Nembe, that oil spilled from the Christmas tree directly and cannot be controlled for more than one month.”

The governor restated his call on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other organs of the FG to come to the aid of the victims. 

He said it was unfair that lesser disasters in other parts of the country were given prompt attention, but no such concern was shown for victims of the Nembe spillage in spite of the magnitude of the damage.

Responding, chairman of the committee thanked the governor for bringing together a crop of technical experts to look into the issue of the spillage. 

He promised that members would justify the confidence reposed in them and work to achieve the aim based on the terms of reference.

Other members of the committee are: the Commissioner for Environment, Iselema Gbaranbiri, Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Ebieri Jones and former Commissioner for Environment, Iniruo Wills.

Also included are the Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Africa, Toru- Orua, Professor Iwokuma Agbozu, former Director, Centre for Niger Delta Studies, Professor Solomon Ebobra, Woyingikuro Agada, Enai Reuben and the Deputy Director, Ministry of Justice, Emmanuel Yibawei. 

(NAN)