A NEW report released on Tuesday highlights the need for Nigeria to secure $12bn to clean up decades-old oil spills in the southern Bayelsa state. The report specifically points to Shell and Eni as the main culprits responsible for a significant portion of the pollution.
Bayelsa is a prominent oil-producing state within the Niger Delta, an area plagued by pollution, conflicts, and corruption associated with the oil and gas industry.
The Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission initiated an investigation in 2019 to assess the impact of the spills. The inquiry drew on evidence from forensic scientists, blood samples from affected individuals, and company data. The investigation revealed that toxic pollutants resulting from spills and gas flaring exceeded safe limits in soil, water, air, and the blood of local residents. ‘The report finds failures of strategy, prevention, response, and remediation by oil companies,’ stated the commission.
Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, in response to the report, indicated that it had not yet reviewed the final document and therefore could not provide a comment. Eni, on the other hand, acknowledged the existence of oil spills but attributed them to theft for illegal refineries, illegal exports, and sabotage. The company committed to rectifying all spills.
The report further highlighted the widespread presence of toxins that pose health risks such as burns, respiratory issues, and increased cancer risks. It also criticised oil company-led cleanup efforts, stating that they were often poorly executed and could exacerbate soil and groundwater contamination.
Adopting a United Nations model used in the past to calculate clean-up costs in Ogoniland, the commission estimated that the Bayelsa clean-up would require $12bn over a period of 12 years. This estimation aligns with ongoing efforts to address pollution in Ogoniland, where a $1bn clean-up initiative involving a UN agency is currently underway. However, a monitoring group monitoring the project indicated last year that pollution in Ogoniland could be even worse than initially assessed.
The report sheds light on the pressing need to address environmental degradation caused by oil spills in Nigeria, emphasising the financial resources required for a comprehensive clean-up effort in the Bayelsa state and the ongoing challenges faced by affected communities.
