January 25, (THEWILL) – Youths of host communities in the Niger Delta region have expressed outrage over what they describe as the lacklustre response of the NNPCL/SPDC Joint Venture (JV) to last week’s fire outbreak at Wellhead 008, located in Buguma, Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The youths, under the aegis of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas Youth Council, accused the JV of negligence and failure to maintain critical infrastructure, which they say contributed to the devastating incident.
In a statement issued via email, the President of HOSTCOM Youth Council, Comrade Fiawei E.
Pathfinder, condemned the alleged indifference of the NNPCL/SPDC JV, noting that the fire outbreak could have been prevented with regular maintenance of oil pipelines and infrastructure, especially in the saltwater swamp areas where the facilities are located.
“The fire incident, which has left Buguma and its environs in a terrible state, is a direct result of the negligence of the NNPCL/SPDC JV,” Pathfinder said. “These pipelines and oil facilities, which have been laid for decades, are corroded due to exposure to harsh environmental elements. Regular maintenance could have averted this tragedy.”
He added that the slow reaction of the JV created an opportunity for vandals to exploit the situation, further complicating matters.
Pathfinder lamented that despite the enormity of the fire and its impact on the livelihoods of the Buguma people, the NNPCL/SPDC JV failed to deploy an emergency response team to assess the damage and address the situation.
“Since the fire outbreak, SPDC/NNPCL has not paid any attention to the affected communities. They have shown no concern for the devastating effect the incident has had on the people, whose fishing activities and other means of livelihood have been crippled,” he said.
He accused the JV of neglecting the Kalabari Kingdom, a major oil and gas-producing region that significantly contributes to the nation’s economy.
“This despicable attitude towards the Buguma community and the entire Kalabari Kingdom is unacceptable. It is clear that the decay of oil infrastructure and the JV’s negligence are the root causes of this incident,” he added.
In a strongly worded statement, HOSTCOM Youth Council outlined a series of demands to address the fallout of the fire outbreak.
The group requested, “Immediate steps to salvage Buguma and its environs from further devastation.
“Construction of housing and healthcare facilities for affected communities.
“A panel of inquiry led by experts from the presidency, law enforcement, and the Federal Ministry of Justice to investigate the incident and its causes.
“Punishment for anyone found culpable, as well as a thorough remediation of the environment.
“ Immediate maintenance and replacement of decayed pipelines and infrastructure.
“Adequate compensation for all affected community members.
“Povision of pipe-borne water for Buguma and surrounding communities.”
Pathfinder warned that the council would take decisive action if their demands are not met. “At this juncture, we boldly state that if our demands are ignored, we will take drastic steps after due consultations,” he said.
The HOSTCOM Youth Council called on President Bola Tinubu, who doubles as the Minister of Petroleum Resources, to prioritize the plight of the Buguma community and ensure swift action to prevent a recurrence.
The fire at Wellhead 008 has left a trail of destruction, with residents and environmental activists urging prompt intervention to address the underlying issues plaguing oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
