The Nembe communities in Okpoama and Ikensi in Brass and Nembe LGAs, respectively, have expressed concern over an underwater pipeline leak from Oil Mining Lease (OML 29) oilfields.

The oil leak at Ikensi was discovered on Thursday by residents who raised concerns over the negative impact of the spill on the environment.

The ongoing underwater crude oil pipeline leakage near the Ikensi community was observed at about 6:45 a.m. on Thursday and reported to the oilfield operator.

Both officials of the oil firm and the oil spill regulator confirmed the incident but said that they were working on an official statement to be issued in due course.

OML 29 is operated by Nembe Exploration and Production Ltd, formerly Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Limited.

Clarkson Obiakpa, a chief of Opu Nembe, explained that community residents who first detected the leak reported that crude oil was actively discharging into surrounding waterways with no visible containment at the time of reporting.

He raised fears of widespread ecological contamination and threats to fishing-based livelihoods.

“The spill was discovered early on Thursday morning around 6:45 a.m. Crude oil is still flowing into our waterways. No response team has arrived. Our rivers, fishing grounds, and drinking sources are already being affected. We are deeply concerned about our survival and livelihood,” Mr Obiakpa said.

He recalled that this latest incident comes shortly after a marine vessel spill on the Atlantic coastline, affecting Okpoama, Diema and Twon-Brass in the neighbouring Brass LGA, where large volumes of crude oil reportedly escaped into surrounding waterways during a transshipment operation between a vessel and a tanker.

Edwin Otiete-Goli, a community leader, said, ‘This spill has devastated our waters and our means of livelihood. Our fishing grounds are polluted, and our ecosystem is under serious threat. We call for immediate accountability, full remediation, and justice for our people who depend entirely on these waters for survival.”

Aiteo acquired the OML 29 field and the 97-kilometre Nembe Creek Trunk Line for $2.4 billion in 2015, following Shell Petroleum Development Company’s divestment.

The operator of the OML 29 oil block discarded the NCTL, which hitherto evacuated crude to the Bonny Export Terminal due to oil theft and vandalism, and resorted to using barges and small vessels to transport oil to a floating production storage and offloading facility for export.

This development, an interim operational plan pending linking the oil wells via pipelines to the FPSO, has been marred by frequent operational leaks during transloading of crude to the FPSO.

When contacted on Thursday evening, Tito Joseph, spokesman for the oil firm Nembe E&P, said the company was preparing a statement.

“An official statement will be sent soon,” he said.

(NAN)