Host communities in the Gbaramatu Kingdom of Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), demanding compensation for damages caused by an oil spill.
The communities affected by the oil spill include Oporoza, Okpele-Ama/Tebujor, Ikpokpo, Opuedebubo, Opuede, Atamba, Ogbotu, Okerenkokogbene, Gan-Ama Zion, Kala-Ikpokpo, Meike-Ama, Fia-Fia Zion, and Oturu-Ebagbene, have threatened mass protests at the company’s offices if their demands are not met.
The protests they warned can disrupt operations and affect the company’s workers in the region.
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In a letter addressed to the Managing Director of NPSC, the communities represented by their solicitor, Eric Omare, expressed dissatisfaction with the company’s approach towards handling the oil spill incident, which occurred on August 10, 2024.
The letter which was also sent to various authorities including the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Yenagoa, the House of Representatives Committee on Environment, and Delta State officials, stated that the company had failed to follow through on agreed actions after site visits on September 2 and November 18, 2024, respectively.
The communities have given the NPSC until December 18, to take responsibility for the environmental damage which includes compensation and environmental clean-up.
