By Cletus Opukeme, Warri
Over the years Shell Petroleum Development Corporation (SPDC) which has been operating in Niger Delta region with series of pollution as a result of pipeline explosion which mainly caused by equipment failure. But Shell quickly drew conclusion by saying that it waa a third party or sabotage.
By this assertion the affected communities have nothing to say as Shell employed the best lawyers, connections and financial nerve to deal with any community who confronts Shell.
Daily Watch investigations revealed that Shell fingered third party on spillage is aimed at diverting attention so as to escaped from carrying out compensation of the communities directly affected by the spill.
Daily Watch investigations discovered that almost all the facilities of shell in the riverine areas in Niger Delta are outdated, means expired and as such there is kikely hood of frequent spills That most oil facilities were fixed late 50’s meaning the facilities are old and cannot withhold the high oil and gas pressure under the land, creeks and sea.
Experts said oil pipelines cannot stay under the ground or inside salt waters beyond 40 years as the acidic salt water will chop off the facilities due to old age. That concludes that Shell has been lying to the federal government of Nigeria against the oil bearing communities by cleverly shifting blame of spill as sabotage to dodge financial responsibility of compensation.
When contact to speak on the development , Mr. Ozobo Austin, a renowned Niger Delta rights and environmental activist, has vehemently countered Shell Petroleum Development Company’s assertions that oil theft is the primary cause of oil spills in the region. In a scathing response, Ozobo revealed that the actual culprits behind the oil spills are the aging facilities, daily oil exploration activities and system failures, not oil theft.
The activist noted that with the presence of Tantita Security Service Limited and other indigenous security companies policing the oil pipelines, oil theft had been significantly reduced to the barest minimum. Yet spills are are still frequently noticed at different spots in the creeks of niger Delta region “It’s unimaginable for Shell to continue raising false alarms about oil theft truncating oil daily output when the reality on the ground is different.”,he added.
Ozobo exposed the real perpetrators of oil theft, pointing fingers at the oil company officials in the Niger Delta who exploit a bad metering system, barging, and under-reporting daily production output. He emphasised that local oil bunkering and oil activities have been curtailed for the past three years, contradicting Shell’s claims.
“The majority of oil spills in the Niger Delta are caused by the decrepit state of Shell’s infrastructure, including pipelines, flow stations, and other facilities,” Ozobo said. “Years of neglect and lack of investment in maintenance have led to frequent system failures, resulting in devastating oil spills that harm our environment and communities.”
The activist argued that Shell’s claim of oil theft being the main cause of oil spills was an attempt to deflect attention from the company’s own negligence and lack of accountability. He pointed out that Shell’s facilities in the Niger Delta are some of the oldest in the world, with some pipelines dating back to the 1960s.
“It’s unacceptable for Shell to continue blaming oil theft for its own failures. The company must take responsibility for its actions and invest in upgrading its infrastructure to prevent these spills. Our communities deserve better than to have their lives and livelihoods constantly threatened by Shell’s negligence.”he added.
“The federal government should look inward and investigate oil theft within the oil companies, security and government officials who connive to under-report actual daily production and load more barrels than reported,” Ozobo demanded. “It’s time to stop blaming local communities and address the real issues of aging infrastructure and system failures.” He appealed for transparency and accountability in the oil industry.
His statement highlights the need for a thorough investigation into oil theft and spills, focusing on the root causes rather than scapegoating local communities.
