No fewer than 15 persons lost their lives after facilities
of Nigerian Agip Oil Company malfunctioned causing oil spillage.
According to Dr. Omini Walson-Asaco, spokesman of Kugbo
community, about 15 persons were left dead in Emago, Kugbo community in Abua,
Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State as a result of oil spillage at one
of the facilities of Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).
The House of Assembly Committee had summoned the management
of the Italian oil giant, on the heels of a petition from the lawmaker
representing Abua/Odual Constituency, the Deputy Speaker, Marshall Uwom,
requesting the House to intervene in the matter.
At the meeting, which had in attendance representatives of
the community and Agip company, the spokesman of Emago/Kugbo community, accused
the company of insensitivity to the plight of the people.
Dr. Walsco-Asaco disclosed this at a meeting organised by
members of Rivers State House of Assembly Committee on Environment, held at the
Assembly Complex in Port Harcourt. He revealed that the spill was caused by an
explosion, pointing out that Agip had not carried out remediation and clean-up
of the area.
Responding to the allegation, the Government Relations
Manager of Agip, Ijuwe Albert, told the Committee that the spill was an act of
sabotage. According to him, the act of “using explosives” on Agip’s facilities
had returned in the area, noting that the company had recorded several cases of
sabotage with explosives and other destructive devices on their pipelines.
In his response, the Deputy Speaker and lawmaker
representing the community wondered why Agip should carry out investigation
without involving the host community. He accused Agip of making pre-emptive
accusations.
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