NIGERIA NOT WILLING TO ATTEND TO THE ISSUE OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE-Sen. Konbowei

Pan Afric Reporters, Abuja.

Senator representing Bayelea Central, Sen konbowei Benson Friday (PDP) has given an insight into the allegation of exploration sabotage being the cause of the fire outbreak and oil spill from Manifold Well 8/BUG 008 in OML 18, Bukuma(Agum) River State.

Konbowei who addresses journalist in his office shortly after plenary said Nigeria is not willing to attend to the issue of the local people – host community. Raises concern over the neglect of the pipeline infrastructure and the host community not been provided for.

” Nigeria is not willing to attend to issue of the local people, the host community. No matter the law that has been put in place, all of these law, the community law are not attending to the issue, the need of the people.

” The people don’t have water, your activities has created a situation where the water that naturally, they were drinking is no longer drinkable, you have taken the bushes, like I said, they have painted, placed “danger, keep off” everywhere. So my land where I used to hunt even as a hunter you can no more go there, if you you go close to the pipeline, they will say no, this man is about to do something and you will be arrested.

To watch the interview, click on the link below

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/15m1aBmwbH/

” In recent time, sabotage has been beaten down to the nearest minimum because of the present security outfits that are there monitoring the pipeline every now and then. And so pipeline sabotage does not easily come up any more.

Sen. Konbowei worried on the state of the pipeline and continuous spilled, fire outbreak and lost of lives and properties in the Niger-Delta enjoined the Nigeria government and the oil companies to undertake studies on what’s obtainable in other countries on how best  to handle oil exploration, environment and host communities. Emphasis the need for government to do more for the boys in the villages, the host communities.

” The boys in the villages are just there without some form of reparations, nothing is happening there,if you have taken my father’s land, what do you expect me to be doing to survive, what do you expect local, the man who doesn’t even go to school to do? You have taken the creek, the swan and even the farm land.what do you expect them to do?

The pipeline are laid on bare floor in Besene where you have AGIP, Shell and others, where you have this aggrieved local who do not have food  but seeing pipeline with so much hundred of billions and trillion running through, what will you have them do? He further reveals.

” I am not encouraging anybody to do bad but Nigeria have to do more to  encourage the people by attending to the needs of the people.”

He noted that the relative peace being enjoy in the Niger Delta is as a result of the Amnesty granted by the President Musa Ya’Audua (late).

“And because nobody want to die but survive, all they are asking for is give me commiserate measure for me to survive, that’s the cry of the people. Nobody want to go and sabotage anything but have to survive, I have to live while Nigeria is living, we have to live”

Sen. Konbowei’s reaction followed an ordered probe into Rivers Oil Spill, Fire Outbreak by the Senate during plenary on Thursday where the Red Chamber of the National Assembly launches an investigation into the recent oil spill and fire outbreak at Manifold Well 8/BUG 008 in Rivers State, directing its Committees on Environment and Petroleum Resources (Upstream) to assess compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act and other relevant laws for appropriate sanctions against any operators found guilty.

This resolution by the  hallow chamber also followed a motion by Sen. Banigo Ipalibo Harry (Rivers West), the Senate urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to take immediate action in line with its corporate social responsibility and environmental safety commitments. It directed the company to deploy emergency response teams to assess the disaster’s impact and implement remediation measures for affected communities.

The Senate also mandated the National Oil Spillage Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to investigate the cause of the spill and fire, with a report due in four weeks.

Presenting the motion, Sen. Banigo expressed deep concern over the environmental destruction, displacement of residents, and health risks posed by the spill. She noted that recurring oil spills and fire outbreaks in the Niger Delta were often linked to weak safety protocols, sabotage, or lax enforcement of environmental laws.

“The pollutants pose significant health risks, including respiratory diseases, waterborne infections, and long-term effects such as cancer and organ damage, worsening the region’s public health crisis,” she warned.

She also highlighted the contamination of rivers, farmlands, and aquatic life—critical sources of livelihood for communities in Buguma Asalga, Ifoko Asalga, and Bukuma (Agum) in Degema.

Lawmakers raises concerns over delayed responses from oil companies and regulatory agencies, which they said exacerbated the suffering of affected communities and eroded public trust in environmental law enforcement.

To address the humanitarian crisis, the Senate called on the Ecological Project Management Committee (EPMC) to deploy intervention funds to affected victims. It also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief and tackle the ecological, health, and social consequences of the disaster.