Field Report: 005
Date of Visit:
4 September 2024
Location:
Oregha Community, Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta State
Report by:
Our Field Monitor
Background
Oregha is an automonous community of about 2,000 people near Oko Amurun, Ohore in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State. Its natives are Urhobo who speak the Uvwie dialect and are mostly involved in fishing from the nearby Oregha River. They are also involved in farming of cassava, maize, coconut and palm trees from which they obtain oil palm.
Oregha community does not have visible government presence such as good roads, water facilities and electricity. The few roads and boreholes in the community were constructed through self-help and philanthropist gestures aimed at making life better for the community residents.
The community hosts two pipelines owned and managed by the Nigeria Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), a gas transportation company with an extensive network of gas pipelines spanning over 2,500km across 11 States of the federation and reaching more than 350 host communities. The company prides itself as an institution that recognizes the significance of fostering sustainable relationships with host communities. But natives of Oregha community believe otherwise.
Locals told RDI monitors that in the later part of 2023 they started noticing that one of the gas pipelines in the bush was making a whistling noise and spraying gas and sand into the atmosphere. At the time they had reported the incident to the NGIC Community Relations Committee (CRC) which promised to convey the findings to the company. To the surprise of the locals, the NGIC did not respond to the report. As the months went by, the site of the leak also started oozing a black oil that has now found its way to the Orhega River where the locals fish and is threatening aquatic life.
Chairman of Oregha Community, Chief Mackson Edeki, who is a fisherman told RDI monitors that after the initial attempt to get the attention of the NGIC through the report to the NGIC CRC he continued to observe developments in the environment until he noticed corrosive chemical in the Oregha River.
He said the locals noticed that there is now bubbling at the same spot in the gas pipeline that was whistling and spraying sand in the air.
According to him, the black oil spilling into the community farmlands has spoilt many traps and now polluting the river.
RDI POSITION
RDI Executive Director, Philip Jakpor said:
“Our team learnt that the gas pipeline that is spewing the black oily substance and gas was constructed over 30 years ago hence its integrity comes to question. This incident resembles many others across the Niger Delta where spills occur and are allowed to continue for months and in some cases years, resulting to major disasters before intervention comes. The government at federal and state levels should compel NGIC to mobilize to site and stop this environmental assault”
AMATEUR PICTURES FROM THE FIELD
Testimonies
Obrotobo Goddey, 30 year-old community youth,
I am a surveyor by profession. In the course of my survey work in one of the bushes we noticed bubbling in a small point. That was last year (2023) but now it is happening in the river. The chemical is now entering the river. When I noticed this development I placed a call to the community chairman who in turn rushed to see and then report to the NGIC CRC but nothing has happened so far. It is very disturbing
Chief Mackson Edeki, Orgegha Community Chairman
There’s no bunkering in this community or anything that will affect pipeline integrity so we are surprised that the leak is not being clamped at this stage. When it was whistling we never knew anything else would follow. The black oil leaking from the site of the whistling spot has destroyed our animal traps already. I am a fisherman and I fish in the Oregha River but with this incident escalating we may not be able to fish.
Chief Omafume Amurun, Chairman, NGIC CRC, Uvwie LGA
We have made every attempt to get the NGIC to take action before the leak causes a major disaster but to no avail. There is apprehension in the community that a fire or any other incident may happen. We are also worried that the spill might engulf the entire Oregha River and affect the livelihoods of local fisherfolks. We do not want the situation to degenerate to that hence our outcry that the NGIC should come and clamp the ruptured point
RDI Demands
- The Federal/Delta State Government and relevant agencies compel the NGIC to mobilize immediately to clamp the gas leak and black oil spewing into the community farmlands and river
- The NGIC compelled to replace its aged pipes that have the tendency of rupturing and causing havoc in the peaceful community
- Sanction for erring officials of NGIC for failing to address the imminent danger of an explosion and other fallouts of the pipeline rupture reported to them.
- Carry out a comprehensive investigation and environmental audit to ascertain the impact of the leaks on the environment and especially the river
- Compensate locals who have suffered losses including destruction of their farmlands and waters
- The NGIC strengthens its relationship with the Community Relations Committee (CRC) to ensure seamless communication and addressing of community concerns
