Rights Body Investigates Negative Impacts Of Oil and Gas Activities In 3 Rivers Communities

Worried over the incessant cases of pollution and the accompanying negative impact on communities in the Niger Delta, a rights advocate group, PILEX Center has embarked on a health, social and environmental impact of unchecked pollution in three communities in Rivers State.
According to the coordinator of the center, Courage Nsirimovu the outcome of the investigation will serve as a “veritable tool for advocacy and litigations where necessary in view of securing justice for impacted communities and setting a new standard for future engagement”
Giving rationale for the exercise, he stated: “For over 70 years, SHELL, TOTAL AGIP and other multinational oil companies have exploited the crude oil and gas resources of the people of Niger Delta in a rather crude manner which has oppressively polluted and spoilt the environment, killing many species of plants and animals and chasing the survivors away.
“Community dwellers have lost much of their fishing and farming livelihood and the hydrocarbon poisoning in their foods, soil, water, air and body from the pollution, has led to sicknesses, diseases and death of our people.
PILEX CENTRE with support from Advocates for Community Alternatives and Public Interest Lawyering Initiatives for West Africa under her RIV 3 Project, has engaged public health and environmental experts to investigate the extent of the negative impact of these activities on the people and their environment”.
According to him, PILEX CENTRE – THE PEOPLES ADVOCATES shall be demanding that:
1. The defaulting MNOCs clean up the polluted environment to restore it to its original state before their exploitation.
2. The defaulting MNOCs build a health center in all polluted environment to treat affected persons without any charge, whatsoever.
3. Compensation for Damages.
The three communities chosen for the project are Ibaa, Rukpokwu and Rumuekpe in Emohua and Obio/Akpor local government areas of Rivers State.
Pilex Centre for Civic Education Initiative, The Peoples Advocates, said it has already initiated dialogue with the affected communities and received their consent, paving way for the investigations to be conducted by health and environmental experts to commence.