President Goodluck Jonathan has promised to ensure that relief materials and other needs are sent to the people of Koluama community in Southern Ijaw local government area, Bayelsa state, where Chevron’s burning oil-rig has being on fire for over a month.

A number of residents in Koluama have being displaced following the oil rig explosion on the Chevron gas pipeline located in the offshore waters of the community.

Dr Jonathan made the promise on Monday, when he paid a visit to the community to asses the extent of the damage done.

He reiterated the commitment of his administration to environmental management promising to ensure that erosion and desertification will be checked from the Niger Delta to the Northern parts of the country.

The president also noted that the federal government has agencies that will ensure that relief is sent to Koluama people and called on the oil companies to follow suit. He promised the communities that the Nigeria Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) will facilitate the deployment of more relief materials to them. He commended them for showing restraint, tact and discipline in the way and manner they have channelled their grievances and assured them that government will do its best to address their complaints.

The community had complained of lack of infrastructure like portable water and electricity in spite of the exploitation on resources by the oil companies.

President Jonathan also enjoined Chevron to provide more relief materials and other sundry relief items to the people. He urged oil companies operating in the country to undertake the training of personnel, especially residents of communities within their operational base as part of its compensation and corporate responsibility to the people.

Raging flames from the oil rig has been burning since January 15 following an explosion accident that caused the fire. The burning flames has reportedly damaged aquatic livestock that the people of Koluama lives on.

Environmental rights groups, Friends of the earth has described the Chevron’s oil-rig accicent as the “world’s worst such accident in recent years.”

Chevron representative Lloyd Avram, recently told Agency reports that  the gas-fuelled fire burning in waters off the Niger Delta may last for “conceivably months”.

Environmental risk

Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson said the state has been exposed to risk due to activities of oil companies operating within its communities and asked that the companies learn to respect their environment in order to ensure the preservation of the nation’s ecological system.

He further disclosed that his administration has set up legal and technical committees to harmonise assessment reports conducted.

Speaking on behalf of the communities, former Bayelsa State House of Assembly member, Honorable Ayaowei listed the problems facing the people resulting from the gas explosion to include inability to continue with their fishing businesses, lack of portable drinking water, medical care and electricity as well as lack of access roads to link the communities.

Chevron Managing Director, Andrew Fawthrop while regretting the incident, promised that the company will commence community and medical development works within in the communities soon.

President Jonathan was accompanied to Koluama by Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, Ministers of Petroleum, Deziani Allison-Madueke, Environment, Hadiza Malaifia and Niger-Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe.