BY  Samuel  Oyadongha

Yenagoa—There are indications that Bayelsa State may be considered a special case, as the Federal Government moves to implement the United Nations Environmental Protection, UNEP, report on Ogoniland, Rivers State.

Already, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, is in the state on a two-day inspection visit to recorded oil spill sites that were not remediated by government or the oil companies.

Director General of NOSDRA, Mr. Peter Idabor, who spoke to newsmen in Imiringi, Ogbia Local Government Area of the state, stressed the need for remediation efforts in the state.

He said: “Pollution in Bayelsa is very rife, it is like what happened in Ogoniland.  We are here as part of the activities we have lined up in the oil producing state to seek the attention of the governors in areas where we can tackle oil spill. We are going to visit some of the legacy sites.”

On the team’s visit to Well 12 in Imiringi, he said it was based on the report of an alleged oil spill a long time ago, which turned out to be false.

However, available facts show that Bayelsa State has witnessed more cases of pollution in the last decade than any other oil producing state in the Niger Delta region.

Only recently, the Trans-Niger Trunkline was shut down due to observed leakage to enable its owner, Shell Petroleum Development Company, effect repairs.

The NOSDRA team is expected to visit Ikarama and Biseni communities in the outskirts of Yenagoa today in continuation of the inspection visit.

Ikarama community has been described as one community that has witnessed more oil crude spills than any other oil producing community in the Niger Delta region.