Reps Probe Aiteo, Addax On Oil Spills, Mou In Rivers

THE House of Representatives has begun an investigation into allegations of crude oil spills and abandonment of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached with host communities against the Addax Petroleum Nigeria Limited and AITEO in different parts of Rivers State. It was gathered that the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, ordered the probe following petitions by three impacted Kalabari local government area of Degema, Asari Toru and Akuku Toru.

Ibrahim Lawal, the Special Adviser, Media, to a member of the House, Dr. Farah Dagogo, confirmed the development in a statement. The petitions against the oil firms were signed by the Amanyanabo of Kalabari and the Kalabari Frontiers and were laid on the floor of the House by Dagogo, representing Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency.

The Amanyanabo, through HRH Tubotamuno Dick, accused Addax Petroleum Nigeria Limited of brazen disregard and disrespect to Kalabari people in its operations at OML 126/137 oil field. He warned of a likely breakdown of law and order in the said oil field if the company continued to “threaten their source of livelihood and the community as a whole”.

The monarch said: “We have done everything humanly possible as law abiding citizens to make Addax Petroleum Nigeria Limited see reasons and execute a Memorandum of Understanding with Kalabari Kingdom as a way of ensuring a peaceful working environment of mutual benefits to all but will appear that Addax Petroleum Nigeria will have none of it, and has gone ahead to disrespect Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Kalabari Kingdom”.

Also, the Kalabari Frontiers wanted the House to mandate Aiteo to provide relief materials to the Kalabari communities affected by their “outrageous crude oil spill” in well 1, OML 29, Santa Barbara Oil Field.

The petition also requested that an effective remediation plan should be put in place for mitigation of the polluted region in line with ‘ global best practices, international standards and technical expertise. Compensation, water rights and individual claims be made payable to thousands of those economically displaced”, the petition said.