Ozobo:: Human rights advocate Oozobo Austin refutes Shell’s inaccurate allegations on oil spills in the Niger Delta.
On August 31, 2024, Comrade Ozobo Austin, a well-known environmentalist and rights campaigner in the Niger Delta, strongly refuted Shell Petroleum Development Company’s claims in the Vanguard Newspaper that oil theft is the main reason for oil spills in the area. In a caustic reply, Ozobo disclosed that it is not oil theft but rather deteriorating infrastructure, routine oil exploration operations, and system malfunctions that are the real causes of oil leaks.
Oil theft has been drastically reduced to almost nothing, according to the activist, thanks to Tantita Security Service Limited and other indigenous security companies monitoring the oil pipelines. “It’s unimaginable for Shell to continue raising false alarms about oil theft truncating oil daily output when the reality on the ground is different.”, he continued.
The Niger Delta executives of oil companies that take advantage of faulty metering systems, barging, and underreporting daily production output are the ones that Ozobo exposed as the true perpetrators of oil theft. Confronting Shell’s claims he underscored that for the previous three years, local oil bunkering and oil activities have been reduced.
“The majority of oil spills in the Niger Delta are caused by the decrepit state of Shell’s infrastructure, including pipelines, flow stations, and other facilities,” Ozobo said. “Years of neglect and lack of investment in maintenance have led to frequent system failures, resulting in devastating oil spills that harm our environment and communities.”
The activist said that Shell was trying to divert attention away from its own carelessness and lack of control by claiming that oil theft is the primary cause of oil spills. He emphasized that some of the pipes in Shell’s Niger Delta installations date back to the 1960s, making them among of the most ancient in the world.
“It’s unacceptable for Shell to continue blaming oil theft for its own failures. The company must take responsibility for its actions and invest in upgrading its infrastructure to prevent these spills. Our communities deserve better than to have their lives and livelihoods constantly threatened by Shell’s negligence.”he added.
“The federal government should look inward and investigate oil theft within the oil companies, security and government officials who connive to under-report actual daily production and load more barrels than reported,” Ozobo demanded. “It’s time to stop blaming local communities and address the real issues of aging infrastructure and system failures.” He appealed for transparency and accountability in the oil industry.
In contrast to scapegoating local communities, his speech emphasizes the necessity of conducting a comprehensive inquiry into oil theft and disasters.
