Protesters Chant ‘Shell Stop Your Evil Practice’ As Battle Over Bonga Spill Money Intensifies

Dozen of protesters, on Monday, demonstrated against Dutch firm, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) at its logistics facility in Ogunu, near Warri over delay in payment of the Bonga oil spill compensation.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (www.bigpenngr.com) reports that the development followed refusal of Shell to accept liability over the widely publicised Bonga crude oil spill which occurred on Dec. 20, 2011.

The spill reportedly occurred when an oil tanker operated by Shell Petroleum was loading at the Bonga Community oil field in the Niger Delta.

The incident, however, resulted to the spill of approximately 40,000 barrels of crude oil. The incident occured about 120 kilometers off Delta coast and caused several environmental devastation in about 457 coastal communities in the Niger Delta.

But Shell had denied lability, claiming it was a “misery” spill.

According to reports, both National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) indicted Shell, stating they’re liability to pay compensation to the locals.

The protesters who had been battling Shell under the aegis of Concerned Bonga Oil Spill Impacted Communities (CBOSIC), said that Shell according to NOSDRA and NIMASA was liable to the tune of 3.6 billion 6.2 billion US dollars respectively.

They vowed to occupy Shell facilities in the region should the company delayed further the payment of the compensation.

Some of the placards bored by the protesters who converged at the Shell gate, Ogunu community had inscriptions such as: “Wayo Shell pay our Bonga spill money now”, “Shell clean our environment now”, “Shell stop your evil practice” among others.

Mr Hosanna Jalogho-Williams, Vice Chairman of (CBOSIC) and leader of the protest, accused Shell of insensitivity to the plight of host Communities along the Bonga coastal areas.

He said Shell have been adamant and had failed to heed to directives hence the peaceful protest.

“We are here on a protest based on the Bonga spill that occured in 2011. As at the time the spill occured which was the fault of the SPDC, there was no containment to the Tida flow and water spread it to about 120 kilometers on the water lines.

“However, every attempt to get Shell to carryout a redress proved abortive with so much disregard on us, using nasty languages to the extent of saying the spill is a misery spill.

“We do not know what Shell meant by misery, it does not make sense. Everything in creation have a definition in science.

“If you talk about crude oil exploration, it falls within the gamut of Petroleum Engineering. Also, in law, there is nothing like misery.

“NOSDRA has already told them that they are liable to the tune of 3.6 billion US Dollars. NIMASA also say that they are liable to the tune of 6.2 billion US Dollars.

“So Shell should pay the compensation. It was for these reasons we came within the ambit of law to do this peaceful protest.

“To let the whole world know the level at which Shell is inflicting pains on the people,” he said.

Jalogho-Williams who is also an Environmentalist alleged that some top government officials were behind the unwholesome attitude of the Shell.

The Environmentalist said that the evaporation at the gaseous state of hydrocarbon could lead to disability in babies, deafness and among others.

He, however, noted that oil spill was not all about the economy but the wellbeing of the people.

Mr Mike Tiemo, Chairman, CBOSIC told newsmen that the protest would be a continuous exercise until Shell does the needful.

“We will occupy Shell facilities, terminals, platforms and locations until they comply. Federal Government should also do the needful by prevailing on Shell without further delay. We are moving to the sea to disrupt their operations,” Tiemo warned.

A 73-year-old woman, Mrs Comfort Yaye, recounted her ordeal, lamenting the pains the multinational had inflicted on them over the years and called for immediate compensation and remediation.