Yakubu
Nigeria needs 12 billion to carry out the cleanup of oil spills in Bayelsa State, Southsouth Nigeria, a new report said.
The report identified two oil giants Shell Petroleum Development Company and Eni as being responsible for the major pollution in the state.
According to the report, which was released on Tuesday, the cleanup exercise would last over 12 years.
The findings were contained in a report from the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission, which had in 2019 begun an investigation on the impact of oil spills in the state, Reuters reported.
The commission, in its investigation examined evidence from company data and forensic scientists as well as blood samples from people living in the affected areas.
Findings revealed that toxic pollutants from oil spills and gas flaring were many times higher than the safe limits in samples of soil, air, water and in the blood of local residents amongst others.
The report finds failures of strategy, prevention, response and remediation by oil companies, the commission said.
Reuters reported that the spokesperson for Shell declined comment but that of Eni blamed the oil spills on theft aimed at feeding illegal refineries, illegal export and sabotage, adding that the company undertook to remedy all spills.
Eni conducts its activities according to the sectors international environmental best practices, without any distinction on a country basis, the spokesperson told Reuters.
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