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Rivers Community Decries Pollution Caused by OML 27

By Adaobi Rhema Oguejiofor

The residents of Joinkrama Clan in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State have decried the level of environmental degradation, poverty and neglect constantly occurring in the area.

Joinkrama, a host to Adibawa Oilfield in Oil Mining Lisense (OML) 27, operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) Limited, is saturated in abject poverty, environmental degradation and neglect, with an unmotorable access road that is cut off by flood and erosion.

The residents, while speaking at the Community Diagnostic Dialogue, organized by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) on the issues of oil pollution, complained that the Orashi river which passes through the area and serves as their major source of water supply, has been polluted with crude oil.

Residents also pointed out that Joinkrama is crisscrossed by oil and gas pipelines, and that as a result of this, oil floats the river, people can no longer fish, while crops such as cassava are not yielding produce as much as before.

They added that the rivers within the community are highly polluted and that these rivers cross from one community to another.

The members of the community said that they have written several letters to Shell, Agip and others, but unfortunately, there has been no favorable response.

According to them, all they seek is for the oil company operating in the community to lessen the effects of their operations on the community and its residents.

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