Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
A civil society organisation, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has scolded the Military Joint Taskforce for destroying vessel containing 800,000 barrels of crude oil, saying it is barbaric as it has contributed more to the ongoing pollution of our waters in the Niger Delta region.
The Executive Director, HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey, while reacting to the development in a statement made available to newsmen by Kome Odhomor, Media/Communication Lead, said with the destruction, it’s apparent “the continuous cry of pollution made by Nigerians have evaded the attention of the leadership of the Joint Task Force of the Nigerian Military and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd.”
Raising concerns over the
“disregard for the environment and human lives considering the manner the vessel was destroyed with no attempt to comply with international best practice,” Bassey said “the incident also confirmed the fact that Nigeria does not know the amount of crude oil that leaves the shores of the country on a daily basis.”
“HOMEF believes the significance of the bombing of the vessel is the indication to the people that authorities care little about their safety and that
of the environment,” the statement added.
According to him, while the Niger Delta burns on account of gas flaring, oil spills and other forms of pollution, the burning of the seized oil vessel is adding salt to injury.
He said: “The drama that unfolded regarding the seized and bombed vessel is extremely disturbing.
“Destroying a vessel loaded with 800,000 barrels of crude oil should be taken as a new low in the demonstration of wastefulness on the part of those who should be watching over the nation’s resources.
“The entire episode requires urgent investigation. Why would anyone blow up a vessel and dump 800,000 barrels of oil into the environment? If that volume of crude is correct, this must be one of the largest volumes of crude oil spilled in one incident.
“Our security men are often seen protecting pollution such as gas flares and rotten pipelines and stripping
communities of their dignity.
” In this incident they have demonstrated utter disregard to our constitutional right to a safe environment”.
Bassey further noted that “One drop of crude oil contaminates 25 litres of water. Imagine what 800,000 barrels of crude oil would do.
” It means destruction of fisheries and of livelihoods.
“It also means directly poisoning our people. It is shocking and unacceptable.
“The entire thing seems to have been staged for some unknown purposes. How can security agents bomb a crude oil loaded vessel with Nigerians watching and filming as if they were being entertained. Oil theft is a crime.
“Blowing up a vessel loaded with crude oil is a higher order of malfeasance. The
security forces need some trainings on environmental and climate crises.
“What has played out is sickening on many levels. Economic waste. Ecological assault. Security cannot be a valid reason for blowing up the
vessel. We need to know why this was done. And urgently too”.
He said: “Considering the impact that the destruction will have on the marine ecosystem and the contribution to the pollution that has plagued the region, government agencies must adopt safe ways of handling rogue vessels, including ways of putting them out of commission.
“Outright destruction of vessels on the high sea is not environmentally
acceptable. It is time for the Joint Task Force to begin to work with environmental experts and those who are genuinely concerned about the environment to protect lives and livelihoods.”