Fishermen sight spill at Chevron’s Funiwa oilfield

Nathan Tamarapreye

Fishermen within the Bayelsa coastline have reported an oil leak reckoned to be from the Funiwa oilfield run by Chevron Nigeria (CNL).

Some of the fishermen from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, told our reporter that they saw crude on the shallow waters of the Atlantic Ocean near the oilfield as helicopters were observed overflying the vicinity.

A fisherman, who identified himself as Tombra Ebitimi, told journalists that he noticed the incident on Saturday night and subsequently reported it to the community leadership.

Ebitimi added that many helicopters have been deployed to the area for assessment as response efforts were yet to commence.

“Some of us who went on fishing sailed into the oil contaminated area near the Funiwa oilfield and got our nets and fishing gear soaked with crude on Saturday, by today we noticed some helicopters over-fly the facility by today.

He said: “It could be that community leaders have informed the company, but our concern is that they should not apply toxic chemicals from the sky to dissolve the oil. Those chemicals used to disperse, and breakdown crude is unfriendly to fishes and marine life generally,” Ebitimi said.

According to him, fishermen in the area had suspended fishing to avoid catching contaminated fishes that could be dangerous to public health.

First Exploration and Production, an indigenous oil firm operates Oil Mining Leases 83 and 85 acquired from Chevron following its divestment from some of its assets in the area where it still retains interests in some fields.

Officials of Chevron and First Exploration and Production have yet to respond to requests for comments on the incident.