Following the recent media report about water crisis in some parts of the Niger Delta region due to oil spillage, the Federal Government is set to hire six contractors to provide potable water in the affected communities in Ogoniland.
Recently, FG opened a fresh bid to select contractors to provide potable water in oil spills impacted communities in Ogoniland. Over 40 companies submitted their expression of interest to participate in the bidding for the project.
Marvin Dekil, the project coordinator, Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) said at the opening of the bid in Port Harcourt that the project was an initiative of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland.
“Today we are opening bids for six lots to six competent companies to provide potable water to various locations in the four local government areas of Ogoniland,” he said.
In 2011, UNEP recommended the provision of running water for Ogoni communities whose underground water got polluted by decades of oil spills.
Nine years after the recommendation, no action was taken by the federal government to implement the UNEP report.
Dekil said that HYPREP under the federal ministry of environment would coordinate the water projects in four local governments of Eleme, Gokana, Khana and Tai areas, covering Ogoniland to ensure early completion.
“In addition, the water that we are going to provide in Ogoni communities will meet the United Nations and World Health Organisation standards.
“Ogali, Kpean, Nsisioken, Korokoro, K-Dere and B-Dere communities in Ogoni are the communities that UNEP identified for the water projects. These communities will get the six lots in the first phase of the water project, while others will benefit from subsequent phases as we progress,” he said.
Meanwhile, report has it that the recent oil spillage that occurred at Omoku in Ogba Egbema Andoni Local Govt Area of Rivers state has imparted negatively on the socio-economic life of about nineteen communities in the area as their sources of livelihood, rivulets and farmlands seriously affected.
Some of the affected community members who are mainly farmers and fishermen while blamed the oil spillage on the activities of Nigeria Agip oil company.
They are, however, calling on the state and federal government to come to their rescue.
Obirikom Oil Mineral Lease, OML Eleven where the oil spill occurred is situated in Omoku, Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Govt Area of Rivers State, and the oil well is said to be owned by Nigerian Agip Oil Company , NOAC.
The devastating impact of the oil spill has affected their sources of livelihood which is basically farming and fishing, making life unbearable for them.
The affected community members while lamenting the inhumane treatment meted on them by multinational oil companies operating in the area want urgent attention to be given to the issue in order to address it before it gets out of hand
The Rivers state commissioner for Environment, Tamuno igbiks, who went on an on- the- spot assessment visit to know the extent of damage of the on the environment urged residents of Omoku not to take laws into their hands adding that the state government is doing all within its power to address the situation.
While blaming the cause of the oil spill on Nigeria Agip Oil Company, he called for the refurbishment of their facilities which he says have long been overdue.
The damage done by the oil spill affected over nineteen communities and if nothing is done in good time, it could affect the relative peace experienced between host communities and oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region.