Port Harcourt — The representative of Odidi community in Delta State, Mr Anthony Richard, has said that about four persons were killed while 15,500 residents of the community were displaced in July oil spill that ravaged the community.
Mr Richard disclosed this when the South South Zonal Coordinator of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mr Benjamin Oghenah presented relief materials worth millions of naira to the affected communities.
He said people died as a result of “obnoxious gas released into the atmosphere due to the spillage”, adding that the spill also ignited fire which destroyed houses, farm land and fish ponds.
He commended NEMA for coming to their aids and called on the federal government and other relevant agencies to work against further occurrence.
Handing over the relief materials on behalf of Alhaji Sani Sidi, NEMA Director General, to Delta State government, the South South Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Mr. Benjamin Oghenah, expressed the sympathy of the Director General over the oil spill.
He noted that the incident has impacted negatively on the lives of the inhabitants. The Director General commended what he called the prompt intervention of Delta State government and assured of the agency’s continuous support in ensuring that efficient and effective disaster management structures are put in place. He said government is worried about continuous cases of oil spills.
He said government is battling with oil pipeline vandals and cannot tolerate incessant cases of equipment failure.
He urged oil companies and relevant agencies of government to put in place adequate monitoring measures. In his remarks, Permanent Secretary in the Delta State Emergency Management Agency (DTSEMA) Mr. Emmanuel Yugbovwe commended NEMA for the its support.
He said the state will ensure that the relief items are used judiciously.
