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The House of Representatives Committee on the South South Development Commission (SSDC) has demanded a bi-weekly update from agencies on all remediation efforts following gas seepage in Bille Community of Rivers State, and oil spills in Odidi, Ogulagha, Odimodi and other communities in Delta state.
The Chairman of the House Committee, Hon. Julius Pondi, gave the directive the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) at a resumed investigative hearing on the said incidents, Thursday in Abuja.
The committee had expressed worries over the failure most of the agencies expected at the resumed hearing to bring environmental impact assessments and other relevant documents requested.
The Chairman said the investigative hearing demonstrated the committee’s commitment to its oversight responsibilities, particularly the protection of the environment, livelihoods and welfare of people in the South-South region.
In his presentation, a representative of Odidi, one of the communities affected by the oil spills, Mr Odokomaiye, said the spill was still ongoing, adding that all 14 communities in the area had been affected by the spillage.
A member, Rodney Ebikake, subsequently moved a motion that NOSDRA and NUPRC, as regulators of the oil sector should be asked to provide bi-weekly reports on their remediation efforts, following which the chairman ruled that the agencies act as approved by members.
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