About 10 oil producing communities in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, South-West Nigeria have appealed to the Federal Government to prevail on oil companies operating in the area to abide by provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, to cushion the effect of oil spillage affecting them.
According to residents of the communities, since a vessel belonging to one of the oil companies exploded in February 2022 killing over 10 persons, and their only source of livelihood badly affected, they are yet to get any remediation, clean-up and compensation despite several appeals.
In August 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the PIA to regulate the Nigerian oil and gas industry, and develop host communities.
However, Awoye and about 10 other adjourning oil producing communities in Ondo State affected by the oil spillage and explosion in February this year from the operations of the oil company, are calling for enforcement of the PIA to address their sufferings.
The residents of the riverine communities lamented that their water has been polluted and fishing being their only means of livelihood badly affected.
Succour may however soon come their way as members of the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities have visited the affected areas to have an interface with a view of addressing the issues. They advised oil companies to take environmental issues in their host communities more seriously.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
