Nigeria Content Online

Oil spills allegedly coming from a sunken tug boat
at the Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) jetty is causing havoc at one of
the biggest fish ponds in Delta State, as an estimated N100 million
worth of fish has so far died as a result of the pollution.

A visit to the multi-million naira privately owned
fish farm in Ekpan, Uvwie local government area of Delta State, shows
some of the farmers lamenting their loss as more than half of over
2,000 fish ponds were affected by the oil spillage.

The Delta State commissioner for environment,
Bello Orubebe, has declared the area, which includes Ugboroke, New
Layout, Ekpan, and Agadaga as a disaster zone.

The commissioner made the declaration while on
tour of the affected fish ponds yesterday and ordered the immediate
halt to sale and consumption of fishes from the ponds, pending thorough
laboratory results. An estimated 6,000 fishes have so far died in the
polluted waters.

The president of the Ekpan Uvwie Fish Farmers
Association, Rufus Ekwale, said their ordeal began last week Thursday
when they noticed shining oily substances in the ponds.

He noted that further investigation by them
revealed the source as the Chevron jetty, where a sunken tug boat was
omitting substances suspected to be diesel into the Ekpan river, which
is one of the main supply of water to the fish ponds.

Mr. Ekwale said they immediately dispatched a
letter to the Chevron management, the state governor, the commissioner
for environment, the Delta State Environmental Protection Agency
(DELSEPA), and other relevant agencies in the state.

“As I speak to you now, no response has come from
Chevron management. But the commissioner for environment was here
personally to conduct some tests and went as far as visiting the source
of the pollution”, he said.

Tests on fishes

Joshua Ughere, chairman, board of trustees of
Ufuoma United Farm, Ekpan, said: “we are calling on the government and
multinational agencies to come to our aid. We borrowed monies to start
this business, but now all our fishes are gone. The pollution started
last week, now it has spread all over the ponds. If we are not helped,
we will run out of business.”

Mr. Orubebe told the affected farmers that “the
governor expressed his shock over the incident, lamenting that
hardworking Deltans are being plunged into poverty. He is on top of the
matter. He commiserates with you over this loss. In the meantime, don’t
sell these polluted fishes; they are contaminated. They now contain
bio-degradable content, which is harmful.”

He said his preliminary view of the substance showed that the pollutant is a petroleum substance.

“The total result will be released after a
laboratory test,” he said. “Our concern is to get the polluters to pay.
We will work with other agencies. I have seen the source of the
pollution at Chevron yard. The annoying thing is that they have not
cordoned the area off. I will give them 48 hours to come out with a
remedial plan and adequate compensation. They cannot avoid their
responsibility,” he added.

The commissioner also said over 6,000 farmers are affected. He
called for a proper documentation of the exact numbers of farmers
affected, but promised that his ministry will, in conjunction with
other agencies, carry out examination on whether the remaining stock
can be sold to avoid a colossal loss.