Oil and Gas Producing Areas Enlightenment and Empowerment Initiative (OGPAEEI) on Sunday commended the Federal Government and its agencies for intervening oil spill impacted areas in Bayelsa.

Mr Collins Igbabiri, President of OGPAEEI, who made the commendation in an interview in Yenagoa, described the swift response of the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) as heartwarming.

According to him, the group had written a petition to the NOSDRA over an abandoned oil spill site within the oilfields of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Bayelsa.

He noted that the positive response of NOSDRA to the petition by OGPAEEI, an NGO focused on peace building in oil producing communities, compelled SPDC to resume post-spill impact activates at the polluted areas.

Igbabiri noted that the intervention was a lifeline to the environment as it prevented further degradation of the areas polluted by the oil spill and abandoned by the oil firm.

“The appreciation and commendation is prompted by NOSDRA’s action on the October 2016 Spill incident that discharged crude into Ekole Creeks and Nun River and adversely affected Bayelsa communities along the waterways.

“The prompt action of the federal government compelled SPDC which had left the site without remediation and clean up to resume post spill impact assessment, mapping of impacted areas.

“We therefore appreciated the untiring efforts of NOSDRA led by its Director-General Dr Idris Musa, and his team of dedicated staff who have insisted that the spill response must meet laid down procedure and international best practices.

“We give kudos to all the parties that worked very hard to ensure post spill impact assessment is carried out in 18 impacted coastal communities in Bayelsa.

“The impacted Obhan Anyama communities in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa would receive a new lease of life when clean up and remediation is concluded.”

The OGPAEEI President observed that NOSDRA’s template for the post impact study to include, soil, social, health and health impact assessment is in line with the aspirations of the people.

He expressed delight that the show of sensitivity to the plight of the residents in the affected areas has rekindled the hope of the people in government and would lead to harmony and peace in the communities.

Igbabiri urged the three teams participating in the exercise to extend the exercise to the remaining impacted areas of Okoroma clan in Nembe LGA, Brass and Southern Ija LGAs of Bayelsa.

Update news