An oil leak from Tebidaba-Ogboinbiri crude line operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) has discharged massive volumes of crude into surrounding environment.

This is contained a field report by Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN).

According to the report officials of NAOC had commenced recovery of spilled crude from Ikienghenbiri community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (LGA) in Bayelsa.

The report signed by Mr Alagoa Morris, Head of Field Operations at ERA/FoEN, said that more than 30 plastic tanks of 2,000 litres of crude have already been recovered by officials of NAOC.

ERA/FoEN regretted that a Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) was yet to be conducted to ascertain the cause of the leak and therefore urged the management of NAOC to urgently convene a JIV to the spill impacted site.

Community sources at Ikienghenbiri confirmed the spill incident to NAN Correspondent on Monday and said the development had crippled economic activities in the predominantly fishing and farming coastal settlement.

They said that oil recovery was still ongoing at the spill site.

Mr Marshall Amabebe Josiah, a former Community Development Committee Chairman in Ikienghenbiri said that the community had reported the incident promptly but the oil firm delayed its response resulting to the massive leak.

“Due to the heavy volume of crude oil so spewed they have not been able to commence the process of clamping the ruptured point.

“They are looking for a way to evacuate the crude oil from the place to enable them access the oil bearing pipe and repair it.

“That is what they are doing now; recovery of spilled crude oil. No JIV has been done on this particular spill incident.

“I saw several Geepee (plastic) tanks being used for the recovery exercise. From my observation it may take them up to two or three months to conclude that task. And much of the surrounding bush/ swamp have been completely polluted,” Marshal said.

The Community leader regretted that the pollution had depleted the arable land and fishing grounds available to Ikienghenbiri for fishing and farming adding that urgent steps should be taken to bring relief to the people impacted by the spill.

Officials of NAOC declined comments when contacted for comments.

Mr Filippo Cotalinni, Media Relations Manager, at Eni, parent company of NAOC has yet to respond to a request for comments on the incident.

•Photo shows scene of an oil spill.