A renowned environmentalist, Mr Nnimo Bassey, has called on the Federal Government to impose stiffer penalties on oil firms that pollute the environment in the Niger Delta area.
Bassey said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Eket, Akwa Ibom, that ?the penalties in Nigeria’s statute books were not punitive enough to discourage multinational firms from polluting the environment.
The environmentalist was reacting to the recently-discovered leakage from Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited’s Obite gas plant in Rivers.
He decried the increasing “assault” on Niger Delta environment through avoidable accidents, oil spills and gas leakages, describing the Obite plant leakage as “extremely polluting and harmful” to the environment and the people.
He urged regulatory agencies to hold the company liable for the irreversible damage to the communities surrounding the gas plant, and ensure adequate compensation for them.
“We are beginning to witness wanton pollution of our environment and it poses great danger to our people and I think the government must do something fast to check it.
“I urged the government to impose stiffer penalties on companies that pollute the environment through their operations,’’ stressed Bassey ,who is the Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action / Friends of the Earth, Nigeria.
NAN reports that Total had in a statement on Friday announced the shutdown of the gas plant following an operational fault during a drilling exercise at its OML 58 facility.
The incident, which occurred on March 20 in Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema Local Government Area, has raised fears of great health risks to residents of communities in the area.
Mr Charles Ebereonwu, Total’s External Communications Manager, had in the statement said that efforts were underway to fix the leakage and ensure minimal impact on the environment.
“All necessary means to ensure the protection of nearby communities and personnel and limit the impact on the environment have been immediately mobilised.
“Strict monitoring of the environment is ongoing and a safety perimeter has been established.''(NAN)