Oil Pollution: Bayelsa State Presents Report To President

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has requested the support of President Bola Tinubu for the comprehensive implementation of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission Report.

Governor Diri, accompanied by representatives from the Elders of Bayelsa State, traditional rulers, chiefs, the President of the Ijaw National Congress, and the Ijaw Youth Council, stated that the delegates were engaged in a courtesy visit to the President.

During a press briefing with State House Correspondents on Tuesday at the State House in Abuja, the Governor of Bayelsa State disclosed that the report highlighted the impacts of oil exploration on both the citizens and the economy of the State.

” I presented what we call the Bayelsa Oil and Environment Commission report to Mr President. That commission was commissioned by my predecessor who is now a Senator, Senator Hemry Strike Dickson and when I came on board I followed up and that report was first presented to me in the House of Lords in the UK.

“Sometime this year and thereafter just recently the Commission which is an international commission of researchers, scientists and professionals came to Nigeria my state and formally presented that report to me and we were in Abuja here that report was also presented in Abuja here and so today that I have the opportunity to Meet with Mr President.”

Diri also made known that Bayelsan’s sole request for the cleanup of their communities was majorly highlighted in the report, he lamented that the Bayelsan communities have been completely degraded by oil pollution.

“I felt that report is one report that the FG will support the state of Bayelsa to ensure the recommendations of that report are all impenetrable to the letter and as a state we have that the recommendations in that report must be implemented because the report has rough to the fore abt what the Bayelsa has been crying over the years that oil exploration and exploitation has visited on that state, it’s environment and its economic activities.

“Well, the report is there if you are asking for the recommendations they are not just one they are not two but what is important more there is the issue of our environment and in that recommendation, they are talking about the clean up, you know about the Ogoni situation and our environment is gone. If you go into the rivers and the rivulet of Bayelsa state,” the Governor added.

The Governor expressed concern regarding the unfavourable condition of economic activities within the state, emphasizing that the primary interest of the residents of Bayelsa is the restoration of their environment.

“Economic activities of our people have been grounded, and up until today, you still have oil pollution all over the states. 

“And so the number one thing is, first of all, to restore the environment. Clean up the environment. And of course, you have to pay reparations, and those who have caused this damage, most times say, it is as a result of sabotage, the international law does not recognize you own those facilities and equipment, whether the oil spillages were as a result of sabotage or ageing equipment, which is most times the case, equipment failures, reparations have to be paid.”

He stated that the oil pollution in the state is also affecting the health of the people.

 “As I speak with you today, issues about cancer are now almost like a normal thing in Bayelsa state, and this report has traced it to the activities of the oil companies, oil exploration, and all other types of very bizarre types of sicknesses that were not either to none to the people of Bayelsa state,”  Diri added.

Lantana Nasir