By Chancel Bomadi Sunday

Following a fact-finding mission of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, to the Ajakpa Field (OML 90) drilling platform of Britannia-U Nig. Ltd, located off the Forcados Terminal in Burutu local government area, Delta State, which was gutted by fire last week, the youth body has called on the multi-national company to, as a matter of necessity, claim responsibility and send relief items to affected communities in accordance with international best practices.

In a statement issued by the leadership of IYC, Western Zone, yesterday, signed by the trio of its chairman, Comrade Nicholas Igarama, the secretary, Barr. Ebi Joshua Olowolayemo and the information Officer, Tare Magbei, the youth group faulted Britannia-U for what they termed negligence of duty over the incident.

The statement reads in part: “The IYC, Western Zone, embodies the lamentations of Ijaw communities in Ogulagha Kingdom and its environment that are affected by the fire incident at the Ajakpa Field (OML 90) drilling platform of  Britannia-U Nigeria Ltd, 10.77 nautical miles south of Forcados Terminal in Delta State, which occured on Thursday, July 18, 2024.

“The IYC Western Zone expresses concern that more than 72 hours after the unfortunate incident that has attracted widespread attention, the facility remains in flames. While we sympathize with Britannia-U over the sad incident resulting to losses, we condemn in strong terms the level of negligence displayed by the company in the face of potential escalation.

“We have it in good authority that the havoc-wrecking inferno could have been avoided if the company had prioritized the welfare of our people by sustaining regular maintenance and repair measures, and that the recent incident poses a great threat to the environmental health and economic well-being of communities situated along the River Forcados.

“The IYC Western Zone calls on Britania-U to, with immediate effect, put off the flames at the facility to avert wrecking further havoc that could arise from the incident site. The IYC also witnessed with utmost dismay the level at which spilt crude oil content has overtaken the River Forcados once again.

“Britannia-U Nigeria Ltd should urgently implement actionable strategies to mitigate the impending harsh effects as a result of the incident by providing relief materials to its host-Ogulagha Kingdom and other communities exposed to these challenges.

“Failure of Britannia-U Nigeria Ltd to address the aforementioned resulting effects of the explosion and appropriate compensation according to international practice would be perceived as a slight and disregard for the welfare of residents of affected communities, and that would not be tolerated.

“Emphatically, we demand utmost accountability and immediate action from the company to restore the River Forcados to a liveable condition”.