By Francis Ogwo
The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), has denied involvement in the mass death of fish species that were reported floating along the coast of the Niger Delta.
The fish, in their thousands, were reported to have been allegedly poisoned from emissions from it’s installments in Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa, and drew massive media attention.
Reports said the mass death of the fish species, reported to be croaker, renewed the issue of water pollution from companies, especially multinationals, along the coastines.
In a statement issued by the Media Relations Manager of SPDC, Mr. Bamidele Odugbesan, Shell denied any leakage from it’s facilities leading to the toxic effects of the aqautic population.
“The SPDC hereby clarifies that there is no release of dangerous toxic or chemical substances from its operations at the Forcados Oil Terminal, or from its facilities in Ogulagha or any part of the Niger Delta where the company operates.” He affirmed.
“Relevant government agencies are already investigating the alleged causes of death incidents along the coastline in the Niger Delta and SPDC is supporting the investigations.
Odugbesan further revealed that Shell is already working closely with Delta State Government in a joint investigation to unravel the cause of the death of the fish species.
“The Nigeria Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) was widely reported to have clearly stated, that there is no evidence that oil and gas operations may have impacted the aquatic environment as being claimed in respect of the fish kill incident.
“On our part, we are working with the relevant government agencies and the Delta State Ministry of Environment in the investigation of the allegation.
“We have conducted a joint investigation visit to the coastline. Samples have been collected and testing is ongoing in accredited laboratories,” Odugbesan stated.
The uproar was made earlier by an Environmentalist, Mr. Furoebi Akene, who alleged that the dead fish species were as a result of toxic discharge from Shell’s facility at Ogulagha in Delta State
This led to the swift denial by Shell, saying there was no discharge of toxic chemicals from its operations at the Focados crude export terminal of Delta.
While reacting, Mr. Idris Musa, Director-General of Nigeria Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), said the agency could not link the incidence with oil spillage, and is suspecting other causes.
According to him, other relevant agencies in Maritime safety are already on the investigation and have involved experts who would go through adoption of International best practices fairly, to come up with their findings.
“The death of fish species in large numbers made it expedient to look beyond oil spillage as the likely cause, as we found no trace of oil leakage to link with the dead fish.
“The agency proceeded to collect samples of water, sediments and some of the dead fish for laboratory testing.
“In doing so, the agency brought on board other relevant agencies of government that have a mandate on our territorial waters.
“In particular, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Federal Institute of Fisheries Research and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).”
While concluding, Musa said, “All hands must be on deck in the assessment of the possible cause or causes of death of the fish species in such large numbers”.
Very recently, Nigerians were woken up with images of fresh fish species littered in their thousands along the Niger Delta coastlines. While many argued on the location and concluded it was a foreign country and not Nigeria, it was discovered to be in the Niger Delta coastlines, with SPDC, fingered in the causatives.
