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NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION'S
[NNPC's] OIL SPILL IN ADEJE, AN URHOBO COMMUNITY, IN THE NIGER DELTA
15 February 2000
ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS ACTION (ERA)/ FRIENDS of the EARTH Nigeria
214 Uselu-Lagos Road, P.O. Box 10577, Benin City, Nigeria
Tel/fax + 234 52 600 165 e-mail: eraction@infoweb.abs.net
ADEJE STILL UNSAFE
[February 14, 2000]
HIGHLIGHT
+ Health hazards enormous
+ Fears of another petrol fire
+ NNPC yet to respond
"We heard that NNPC people came to repair the broken pipes.
The spill spread in several places, and the spill was not cleaned. You
still have fuel on the ground."
Johnson James, 29 years, Fisherman
"Our people are finding it difficult to breathe. The harmattan
is tough, but the smell of petrol in the air is giving us catarrh and cough."
Peter Umukoro, 40 years, Farmer
UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT
Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) that spewed from a faulty valve into the Adeje environment remains yet to be cleaned over one month after the incident. ERA is alarmed that though the leakage has been stopped the enormous volumes spilled have not been mopped up. Hazardous fumes from the spilled products remain thick in the air. With recent accidents from related scenario (see ERA Field Report # 55 and ERA Brief of February 12, 2000) the NNPC ought to be more responsive.
Armed military personnel are keeping a regular patrol in the area, but this does not answer the ecological question.
A TICKING BOMB
There is only one ill-equipped health centre at Adeje
and this serves several communities. There are no dressings for cuts nor
are there facilities for the treatment of burns. The doctor covering the
area comes only on emergencies.
ERA RECOMMENDATIONS
NNPC and Ministry of Health officials should send experts to Adeje to assess the health implication of the spewed PMS.
NNPC should clean up the Adeje environment.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Send letters to NNPC reminding them of their responsibilities as a public company.
Alert the Local, State and Federal Ministries of Health and that of Environment on the plight of Adeje people
Send copies of your letters to legislators from your constituency (Nigerians) requesting them to raise issues of environmental concerns as a crucial part of their mandate and obligation to the people
For more information contact:
ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS ACTION/ FRIENDS OF THE EARTH (FoE, Nigeria)
OILWATCH AFRICA
#214, Uselu-Lagos Road, P. O. Box 10577, Benin City, Nigeria
Tel/Fax: + 234 52 600165 Email: eraction@infoweb.abs.net
Port Harcourt:
# 13 Agudama Street, D-Line, Port Harcourt
Tel: + 234 84 236365 Email: Oilwatch@infoweb.abs.net
& E-mail: obinze@aol.com
Lagos:
# 1 Balogun Street, Ikeja
Email: disera@infoweb.abs.net
London:
42, William Harvey House, Whitlock Drive, SW119 6SQ
Tel/Fax: +44 181 780 0574
Tel/Fax: + 44 181 7800574 Email: njaja@compuserve.com