The Gbaramatu communities insist that NPSC must be held accountable to prevent similar violations by other companies in the oil and gas sector.
Delta State, Nigeria – Several Gbaramatu communities in Delta State have petitioned the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), demanding sanctions against the Nigerian Pipelines Storage Company Limited (NPSC) for allegedly violating laws related to the cleanup of an oil spill.
The spill occurred on August 10, 2024, along the NPSC/NNPCL Escravos-Warri crude oil pipeline at Atanba in the Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area.
The affected communities—Oporoza, Okpele-Ama/Tebujor, Ikpokpo, Opuedebubo, Opuede, Atanba, Ogbotu, Okerenkokogbene, Gan-Ama Zion, Kala-Ikpokpo, and Maike-Ama—are represented by lawyer Eric K. Omare in a petition signed by community leaders. They accuse NPSC/NNPC of failing to report the spill within 24 hours, as mandated by law, and of repairing the spill site without conducting a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) or proper cleanup.
The petition claims that unapproved dispersants were used, exacerbating environmental damage and disrupting the livelihoods of residents, who rely on fishing and clean water. Omare stated that officials from NOSDRA, NPSC, and community representatives visited the spill site on September 2, 2024, and found that NPSC’s contractor, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, had already repaired the spill point without a JIV, contrary to regulations.
Following protests from the communities, the JIV team ordered the spill point to be excavated to assess the damage, but the investigation remains incomplete. Despite a deadline to conclude the JIV by September 9, 2024, the communities claim that NPSC has stalled the process.
The communities argue that the delay in completing the JIV is preventing the full extent of the damage from being determined, thereby hindering remedial actions and compensation efforts. According to the petition, the affected residents are facing health hazards due to polluted water and gas emissions from the spill site.
The petition accuses NPSC of violating Sections 6(2) and 6(3) of the NOSDRA Act, which requires oil spillers to report incidents within 24 hours and to clean up the affected areas before repairing the spill point. It also alleges that NPSC violated Section 19(1)(h) of the Act by using unapproved dispersants without NOSDRA approval.
The communities are calling for NPSC/NNPC to be fined for each day of non-compliance with the NOSDRA Act, demanding penalties of N500,000 and N1,000,000, respectively. They are also seeking compensation for the environmental damage and loss of livelihood caused by the spill, in accordance with relevant laws.
The petition has been copied to the Managing Director of NPSC, the Zonal Head of NOSDRA’s Warri office, the Area Manager of NPSC in Ekpan, and the Zonal Director of the Delta State Ministry of Environment in Warri. The communities insist that NPSC must be held accountable to prevent similar violations by other companies in the oil and gas sector.
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