FG assures oil spill affected communities of relief

The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam has assured Niger Deltans especially shoreline communities of Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States affected by the Bonga Oil Spillage that relief will soon come their way, even as she sympathised with their plight occasioned by the devastating impact of the spillage on farm lands, marine and aquatic life.
Mrs. Mallam gave the assurance recently in Abuja when leaders of the affected shoreline communities in the three states led by their coordinator Mr. Francis Amoma Monday paid her a courtesy visit in her office.

The minister who expressed dismay at the enormity of the multiple impact of the spillage on the affected communities promised that she will call a meeting of all stakeholders including Shell Petroleum Development Corporation (SPDC) in the coming weeks to find an amicable solution to the challenge posed by the spillage.

She appealed for the sustenance of the prevailing peace in the region, adding that government would neither overstretch their patience nor underrate their resolve for a peaceful solution to the unfortunate incident.
The nation’s environment boss also acknowledged the need for all communities of the Niger Delta region affected by the Bonga Oil Spillage to work together towards finding a lasting solution to the problem.

Earlier in his remarks, leader of the delegation and coordinator of the shoreline communities in Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa states Mr. Francis Amoma Monday praised the efforts of Shell in the overall development of the Niger Delta region, especially in the area of the provision of social amenities and infrastructure such as roads, schools and hospitals as well as electricity and portable water.