Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd. (SPDC) has reacted to NewswireNGR investigation into the company’s oil pipeline spill in Bodo community in Rivers State last August.
The SPDC reaction comes more than a week after NewsWireNGR published her four- month investigation on the oil spillage that engulfed a total area of 3900 metres in Bodo community, spilling over 16,000 barrels of crude oil.
The spill destroyed farmlands, polluted drinking water, creeks, rivers, and many other areas in Bodo.
Bola Essien-Nelson, the SPDC Media Relations Manager who reached out to one of the reporter’s on a WhatsApp chat, apologised for the company’s delay in responding to the email sent seeking comments during the investigation.
Essien-Nelson in an email to the reporters on 3 May at 8:18. p.m. (BST) admitted the company’s awareness of its oil spill, but exonerated SPDC and hinged blame on some community members who barred the company officials from carrying out remediation.
Essien-Nelson said: “The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) reported a spill in Bodo on August 25, 2022.
“While the spill was contained and the crude oil recovered, the remediation is on hold due to the refusal by some members of the community to grant SPDC staff access.
“SPDC will resume remediation as soon as access is granted, and the safety of its staff is guaranteed.”
Meanwhile, during the NewsWireNGR investigation, residents said since the company polluted their environment and destroyed their farmlands, neither SPDC representatives have commiserated with the victims nor paid any form of compensation for the damages caused by the spillage.
However, the company in its defence, did not mention if compensation has been made after the claim that some community residents restricted the company from carrying out its remediation activities.
Data gathered from the NOSDRA oil monitor website shows that the company leaked 1,112 barrels of oil in total between 2017 and 2023.
According to the company’s 2022 annual Report, Shell has contributed $572 million to the rehabilitation of Ogoniland following the spill between 2008 and 2009.
