Residents Express Concerns Over Indiscriminate Seismic Activities In Yenagoa

Already rattled by oil pollution, residents wonder what is next with the persistent seismic activity by oil prospecting companies.

Residents in Amarata area of Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital on Monday expressed concerns over increased oil exploration activities in the past one month.

Some residents who spoke on the development, frowned at indiscriminate seismic activities by oil firms in residential area in Yenagoa and the adverse impact of materials used in the exercise..

The seismic activities involved the use of explosives detonated at remote sites to cause vibration in the earth’s crust to explore oil and gas reserves.

This has been ongoing in various parts of Yenagoa including Tombia, Edepie, Opolo amongst others since February 2018.

Ebike Joseph who resides at OMPADEC area of Amaarata said that the people were worried about the haphazard way the cables were being laid and expressed fears that children may tamper with the cables and get injured.

“The activities of these seismic crews has become a matter of concern to us, the communities woke up and started seeing strange people running cables around the whole place.

“This is the long vacation and you have large numbers of idle children all over the place.

“It is indeed a cause for worry and when we tried to find out what was going on from the crew, they told us that they were searching for oil and that they were working for shell.

“We are wondering why there was no form of public information on the exercise to inform the people,” Joseph said.

Another resident, Michael Abide said that he initially thought that the cables which crisscrossed the roads were power cables.

“I thought the cables were for neighbours who were  using industrial generators who supplied power to small businesses until someone told me that the cables were related to the search for oil.

“Why can’t they concentrate on other areas and allow us be in this residential areas ?,” Abide asked.

Also an environmental advocacy group Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the earth, Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) called for restraint in the search for fossil fuels.

ERA/FoEN in a reaction to the development in a report made available in Yenagoa, it noted that the aggressive search for oil in residential areas was ill advised.

According to the group, the convention presently is to develop alternative energy sources that are environmentally friendly.

ERA/FoEN’s field report was signed by Mr Alagoa Morris, Head of Field Operations in the Non-Governmental Organisation.

The group said the sound of explosives sends shock waves down the spine of residents and wondered why there was no sensitisation to enlighten residents and assure them of safety.

The report also quoted some residents as saying that the seismic cables traversed their houses and often disrupted their social and economic activities.

Accordingly, the report quoted them as expressing fears that if oil was struck, they may be compelled to relocate.

According to the field report, some residents feel that they are silent because they think those engaging in the seismic operation within their environment are doing so because the Land Use Decree gave them such powers.

“Incidentally too, some express optimism that once crude oil/gas is found on their land, it would bring to them unimaginable fortune,” the report said..

ERA/ FoEN observed that the seismic cables were laid at the doorsteps of residents, around and entrances to homes, shops/business environment, road sides and even in the middle of the roads/streets in Yenagoa.

“It is unimaginable that while the world is progressively shifting away from fossil energy, embracing and developing renewable energy; the Federal Government and Shell are still going about crude oil/gas exploration.

“The explosives detonated during the search for oil was responsible for the reported earth tremor incidents reported by ERA over a year ago.’’ The report read in part.

ERA/FoEN urged the Federal Government to leave the oil/gas in the soil and go for renewable source of energy; considering the social and environment conflicts and injustices associated with fossil energy.

“Government should protect the rights of Nigerians to live and go about their businesses in environment conducive for their development and wellbeing in line with Article 24 of African Charter on Human and People’s Right.

“The environment needs protection and defence from government. Residents shouldn’t just remain silent; they should express themselves freely; because the Environment is Our Life.

“Experience has shown that environment damaged by crude oil induced pollution has never been properly attended to by our government and the oil companies.

“The Federal and State governments should ensure that regulations regarding Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) precedes any such exercise; including Social Impact Assessment,” ERA/FoEN said.

However, Mr Bamidele Odugbesan, Media Relations Manager, Shell Petroleum Development Company confirmed that the oil firm was conducting seismic activities.

“We won’t feign ignorance of the development, we will respond as soon as we update our statement due to new developments,” Odugbesan had said on Friday