Uyo- Some Niger Delta youths have urged the Federal Government to compel Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) to compensate fishermen affected by the oil spill from SNEPCO’s Bonga facility.
Mr Harry Johnson, the President, Conference of Niger Delta Youths Representatives (CNDYR), made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo on Sunday.
He recalled that the National Assembly had passed a resolution on Nov. 26, directing the oil company to pay four billion dollars compensation to five states impacted by the spill.
According to him, SNEPCO has failed to obey the directive.
He said that the spill from the company’s facility offshore discharged about 40,000 barrels of crude oil into the Atlantic Ocean on Dec. 20, 2011 which affected coastal Niger Delta states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Ondo and Rivers.
Jonhson said the Bonga oil spill caused untold hardship to the fishing communities in the states.
He, however, commended the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) for recommending the payment of the compensation and the National Assembly for its resolution on it. (NAN)
