By Funmi Olasupo

THE Minister of Environment Mrs. Laurentia  Mallam said  the ministry would put every machinery in place to reconcile Shell Petroleum Development Corporation, SPDC with all the shoreline communities in the Niger Delta who are affected by the spillage which occurred in December, 2012.

Mrs. Mallam who said this when she received members of Shell Corporation in Abuja,  affirmed her determination to find amicable solution to the challenges posed by the Bonga Oil Spillage. She explained that she would meet with all relevant stakeholders with a view to finding a lasting solution to the incident.

Leaders of shoreline communities in Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States  had last week paid a courtesy call on the Minister to complain about Shell’s handling of the Bonga Oil Spillage, which they said had  devastating impacts on marine and aquatic life. They noted that the spills adversely affected fishing activities which is their main stay of livelihood.

Fishing activities
Vanguard Homes and Property gathered that the meeting with Shell is a follow-up of the promise the Minister made to the affected communities that she would consult with all relevant stakeholders with a view to finding a lasting and amicable solution to the problem.

Mrs Mallam said further to her meeting with Shell, she would also visit the affected communities and persuade those already in court to explore other peaceful means of settling the dispute.
The Minister also used the occasion to commend the shoreline communities for their peaceful conduct, explaining that the prevailing peaceful atmosphere would accelerate the pace for an amicable resolution of the problem.

SPDC’s Managing Director, Mr. Mathew Somonu told the Minister that the corporation was willing to find an amicable solution to the problem, adding that the intervention of the Minister would help accelerate the process.

The Shell Chief, who regretted the incident, told the Minister that the spillage was not an act of corporate irresponsibility, but a direct accident arising from its operations.