Residents of Imiringi community in Ogbia Local Government of Bayelsa State have raised an alarm regarding the passing of a gas pipeline across the surface of Kolo Creek.
They believe the presence of the gas pipeline on the river will hinder water transportation in the area as the river is a regular route used by public transporters to ferry people to the neighbouring communities.
Some of the residents, who expressed their displeasure, said the creek was an important transportation channel in the area and the pipeline would disrupts the movement of fishermen, farmers and other residents in the area.
They urged the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), which executed the project, to lay the pipes under water to enable them navigate the creek.
A 60-year-old farmer, Mrs Sbanua Hyuka, said: “We can no longer pass through some areas in the creek with our canoes due to the pipes that run across the surface.
“It is affecting those who have farms beyond that point; they can no longer go to their farms to harvest crops”.
Another indigene of Imiringi community, Mrs Ekiyor Harrison, said “the crossing of the pipes is giving us great concern. Before now, we used to paddle our canoe beyond that point to our farms. But that is no longer possible due to the way Shell passed the pipes across the river.
“We are appealing that the company returns to lay the pipes on the bed of the river so that we can have peace of mind. The situation is troubling”.
“We cannot pass that place with our canoes as it is currently”.
A trader, Mr Titus Ogola, who plies the route frequent said the situation had adversely affected the people and urged SPDC to pass the pipes under water.
“Recently Shell awarded a contract to Nestoil for the construction of gas pipelines from Koko Creek to Soku in Rivers State.
“Unfortunately, the pipelines are designed to cross this creek. But the crossing can be done in the proper way. The pipes should have been laid underneath”.
“During the last flooding season, the whole of the creek was blocked because of the pipelines. Now that it is dry season, women cannot
even navigate their canoe across that section of the creek because of the pipes.
“This small creek is where most of our men and women come for fishing to sustain their families,” he added.
When contacted, the spokesman for the SPDC, Mr Precious Okolobo, declined comments on the matter.