Once again, corporate negligence has plunged a vulnerable community into crisis, as the people of Obololi in the Tarakiri clan of Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State, are not merely victims of an oil spill but victims of a system that continues to prioritise profit over human lives.
Development Diaries reports that a crude oil spill from Shell Petroleum Development Company’s (SPDC) facility has devastated the environment, poisoned waterbodies, and stripped the people of the community of their livelihoods.
We understand that days after this catastrophe, Shell’s only response has been to place booms on the river. This is unacceptable.
The residents of Obololi are in dire need of potable water and food supplies to survive the environmental disaster. While the Southern Ijaw local government has reactivated an old borehole, this is merely a temporary fix.
This is not the first time Shell’s operations have led to environmental destruction in the Niger Delta. According to Amnesty International, over 17.5 million litres of oil were spilt in the Niger Delta between 2011 and 2021, with more than 1,000 recorded incidents.
These spills have long-lasting consequences, destroying ecosystems and worsening poverty in affected communities.
The Obololi spill, caused by equipment failure, is yet another testament to Shell’s failure to uphold international best practices in pipeline maintenance and environmental protection.
Shell must immediately conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV), involving the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and independent environmental watchdogs like Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN).
A proper assessment of the damage should be followed by a full-scale cleanup, remediation efforts, and adequate compensation for affected families. Shell cannot continue to operate with impunity while communities suffer.
The suffering of Obololi’s residents is a direct consequence of decades of corporate greed and regulatory failure. The oil wealth extracted from the Niger Delta should not come at the expense of the people’s right to clean water, health, and economic survival.
Development Diaries calls on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Mineral Resources to exercise their regulatory duties by ensuring Shell is held accountable.
The government should strengthen its enforcement of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to ensure oil companies operating in Nigeria meet strict safety and environmental standards.
Additionally, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) must act immediately to send relief materials, including clean drinking water, food, and medical supplies, to the affected communities.
Photo source: Friends of the Earth
