PRESS RELEASE

July 23, 2024

KOU DELTA COMMUNITIES CALL ON BRITANNIA-U NIGERIA LIMITED TO DO THE NEEDFUL OVER THE DRILLING PLATFORM FIRE ACCIDENT


We, the Leadership of Kou Delta communities express our deep grief over the explosion touching a Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) vessel operated by the indigenous oil and gas company, Britinna-U Nigeria Limited, at the Ajapa Marginal Oil Field on July 18, 2024.

We believe that whatever affects one correspondingly affects the other. Hence we sincerely extend our sympathy with the management and staff of Britannia-U Nigeria Limited for the huge financial losses incurred by the destroyed vessel and spilled crude oil.

Meanwhile, as Leaders of the Kou Delta communities, We are saddled with the uncompromising responsibility of seeing to the well-being and welfare of our communities and our common environment. It is on this ground that We are calling the attention of the Management of Britannia-U Nigeria Limited to the devastating impacts of the oil spillage on our local economies.

It is very unfortunate that the environmentally hazardous content of the exploded vessel is increasingly flowing through our sources of livelihoods, our rivers  creeks, streams, ponds, and forests, wrecking havoc on our local means of survival and sustainance. Our fishing nets, hooks, lines, cages, etc. have all been rendered useless by this sad accident.

Our communities in Kou Delta, Burutu Local Government of Delta State, affected by this devastating explosion include:

1. Agge Okibou Community
2. Youtu Community
3. Okibou-Zion Community
4. Okofa-Aka Community
5. Okia Community
6. Kare-Epere Community
7. Belle Community

Other Kou Delta communities adversely affected include:

8. Iyanmenegbene
9. Selegbene
10. Atalegbene
11. Amos-Daugbene
12. Iselemoseigbene
13. Owologbene
14. Ogodo-Igbagbene
15. Igbepou

We therefore call upon the Management of Britannia-U Nigeria Limited, the Burutu Local Government Council, the Delta State Government, the DESOPADEC, the NDDC and the Federal Government to start by making provision of relief items and materials to assist our People until our economic water bodies, shores, banks, meadows and forests are resurrected and become healthy for fishing and farming activities to recommence.

And of ultimate importance is the unavoidable commitment of Britannia-U to be swift and humane enough to:

i. Deploy Safety Team to contain the unabating spread of the crude liquid gold into our ocean, rivers, creeks, streams, etc.

ii. Clean up our waterways of the liquid mess so that natural aquatic lives and aquatic vehicles could be revived, restored and resume work.

iii. Provide just and fair compensation to the  communities and families that are adversely affected by this explosion.


We equally want to, again, use this opportunity to call on the oil companies operating in our seas,  rivers, creeks, forests and lands to employ standard environmental health practices in their economic interactions with the resources of our environment, so that ugly, sad and preventable occurrences such as this could be prevented.


Signed:

Chief Patrick Irou,
National Chairman, Kou Delta

Comr. Obed Tomone,
Secretary General, Kou Delta

IduwiniVoice

THE MEETING OF GREAT MINDS: DR OTUARO VISITS COMR. EVAH

By Tobouke JEMINE

Chief Dennis Brutu Otuaro, Ph.D., the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), recently met with the renowned Niger Delta activist Comr Joseph Evah in Lagos. The meeting was aimed at addressing the region’s socio-economic challenges and advance peace initiatives.

The discussion centered on the progress of the PAP, which focuses on rehabilitating and reintegrating ex-agitators from the Niger Delta into society. Chief Otuaro reaffirmed his dedication to the program’s objectives and emphasized the importance of collaboration with stakeholders like Mr. Evah for sustainable development and peace.

Joseph Evah expressed support for the PAP and discussed areas needing improvement, stressing grassroots involvement, transparency, and accountability. Both leaders recognized the challenges in the Niger Delta, such as environmental degradation, unemployment, and underdevelopment. They agreed on the necessity of a collaborative approach involving government agencies, community leaders, and activists.

The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to continue working towards transforming the Niger Delta into a region of peace, prosperity, and progress.

IduwiniVoice

NDDC CHAIRMAN, EBIE CALLS FOR UNITY, STAKEHOLDERS SUPPORT AT N’DELTA SUMMIT

By Tobouke JEMINE

Yesterday, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, the Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission Governing Board  has called for unity and stakeholder support during the Niger Delta Stakeholders Pre-Summit Technical Session.

He emphasized that the summit is a crucial opportunity for transformative change in the region, urging participants to approach it with seriousness, creativity, and a collective spirit.

The session served as a precursor to the main summit, aiming to tackle the region’s challenges and explore its opportunities. Ebie’s rallying cry has set high expectations for a productive and impactful summit.