The House of Representatives Committee on Environment has urged NNPCL to commence the cleanup of communities affected by its oil spill and fire incident.

On Thursday in Abuja, Julius Gbabojor, chairman of the committee, said this was the committee’s resolution following a hearing over a petition against the NNPC Eighteen Operating Limited activities.

The spill happened at Well 8, Bukuma, in the Degema LGA.

Mr Gbabojor directed the NNPCL and NEOL to immediately provide an urgent intervention by supplying relief materials to the affected communities.

The chairman explained that the committee had granted the request for a three-week extension to NNPCL and NEOL for a fair hearing and the right of reply on the engagements.

“As you may be aware, this hearing is convened by the Committee on Environment to address a formal complaint against NNPC Eighteen Operating Limited (NEOL).

“This is regarding the spill and fire incident at Well 8, Bukuma, Degema LGA in Rivers, filed by Messrs Anosike Egbuchiwe & Associates, Legal Practitioners, on behalf of the Friends of Eco Life and the affected communities. A gas leak was reported on December 1, 2024, at OML 18, Well 8, Bukuma, and Degema LGA in Rivers.

“Thereafter, a Joint Investigation Team (JIT), comprising the NNPC NEOL, NOSDRA, NUPRC, Rivers Ministry of Environment, and the representatives of the Bukuma community, visited the site on December 6, 2024, during which certain directives were issued to the operators to forestall further escalation,” he said.

Mr Gbabojor explained that the devastation occasioned by the incident could only be imagined.

According to him, the affected communities have been languishing in squalor, considering that for over three months, economic activities centred on farming and fishing abruptly ended.

He lamented that the community, as a result, had no access to safe drinking water, medical care, or the basic necessities of life.

“In response to our invitation to today’s hearing, the NNPCL, in a letter dated March 4, conveyed their inability to attend today’s engagement and sought an extension for three weeks to enable them to provide necessary information and appear accordingly,” he said.

(NAN)