The Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology has demanded that the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the Ministry of Environment and Exxon Mobil immediately furnish it with information on previous oil spill incidence in particular the two most recent oil spills that occurred in Ibeno and Idoho areas of Akwa Ibom state.
In a statement signed by the Chairman Senate Committee on Environment Senator Bukola Saraki, it stated that within the last six weeks, there have been media reports of two oil spills within the precincts of Exxon Mobil Nigeria operations in Akwa Ibom state.
He said there is a growing impression today that majority of the spills are the result of sabotage. However, with the recent spills happening deep offshore, it is becoming evident that there is more to this than meets the eye.
He said no formal report has been made to the committee and general public as to the exact cause, magnitude of the spills, action being taken to clean up and remediate the affected areas and most importantly, arrangement of compensation for the affected communities.
Senator Saraki, decried the frequency of this spills and the lackadaisical attitude of NOSDRA, Ministry of Environment and Exxon Mobil Nigeria to provide necessary and adequate information that will enable the committee have a first-hand assessment of the incident and provide grounds for meaningful action.
