The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria has implored the Nigerian Agip Oil Company to halt oil spills caused by leaks on its pipeline at the Taylor Creek in Bayelsa State.

In a field report, the group noted that visits to the impacted area by its field monitors in October 2019 showed that the oil spill incident was as a result of vandalism, which occurred around September 2019.

ERA/FoEN, in the report by its Head of Field Operations, Mr. Alagoa Morris, said that the pipeline which was breached by suspected vandals since September 2019 had been left to destroy the environment and create problems for residents near the oilfield operated by NAOC.

While condemning vandalism and attacks on oil facilities, the environmental rights group lamented that the devastating effects on the environment made its call to the NAOC crucial.

It said, “In a much as ERA/FoEN is not in support of such attacks on oil facilities and condemns the act; it is incumbent on the facility owner to take the necessary action promptly.

“This is where Agip should take responsibility for not clamping the ruptured spot and allowing condensate, crude oil, and gas to continuing spewing for seven months.

“Whatever steps Agip might have taken, provided this spot has been left bubbling for over half a year makes the company culpable.

“If the company has a reputation of not attending to equipment failure incidents for up to two months; then this is not about the cause of the incident but a corporate attitude which needs to change, The report stated.

ERA/FoEN urged NAOC to take responsibility of the unclamped ruptured spot on the oil firm’s pipeline in the Taylor Creek field.

It requested that NAOC should take immediate steps by mobilizing to site and clamp the ruptured spot on the company’s pipeline and cleanup impacted environment.

It further called on the industry regulators, especially the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment to investigate the matter.