Natives,Stakeholders,Social Action Decry Negative Effects Of Oil Spill In EMOLGA Community

…Calls For Urgent Government Attention

Massive oil spillage that occurred over six months ago that affected the livelihood and the environment of Omoviri people in Rumuekpe, Emohua local government area of Rivers State,Nigeria is now a serious source of concern to stakeholders, natives of the community even as a Non Governmental Organization,Social Development Integrated Centre also know as Social Action has  urged the Federal, State,local Government  and relevant MDAs to come to the aide of the community
Our correspondent who visited the community during an inspection tour by Social Action reports that the content of the spill was visibly seen on the sea and  the source of the spill is yet to be identified by  both the Government agencies and the community people.
Some of the community people during interaction with newsmen expressed concerns over the untold hardship and level of environmental degradation caused by the oil spill.
The devastated people of Omoviri also complained that their river which serves as one of their sources of drinking water has been contaminated by the spill. 
The Community Development Committee(CDC),Chairman of Omoviri,Excellent Eze in an interview with newsmen said they were surprised to see oil float on their water and that they have informed all relevant government agencies, adding that none has come to their aide . 
Mr. Eze

also drew the attention of the Government to the bad state of their roads, lack of school, and the hospital even as he called for urgent intervention over their plight. 
In the meantime, the senior program officer of Social Action, Prince Edegbuo who led the team on inspection on the impacted site, called for immediate clean up of the polluted water, considering the importance of water to life.
Mr Edegbuo said the spill has greatly  affected  the source of livelihood of the people as farmers could no longer farm due to pollution of their land and fishing activities came to abrupt stop as the river became inhabitable for living things. 
The Social Action Programme Manager,said aside the fact the there is no safe drinking water for the people of the community, the people of the area have been thrown into socio-economic hardship. 
Mr. Edegbuo expressed worry that more than six months the spill occurred the government agency responsible for the detection of oil pollution is yet to detect the source.
He added that Social Action will explore all legitimate means to ensure that succour is brought to the people of Omoviri in Rumukpe.