ERA Cautions Security Agencies against Burning of Crude Oil Vessels

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Mr. Chima Williams, has cautioned security agencies against burning crude oil vessels, as a way of destroying recovered stolen products from illegal oil dealers in the Niger Delta region.

The ERA boss, who expressed worries on how Nigeria’s security operatives, while trying to stop oil theft, especially in recent time, have continued to endanger lives of the people, said the act is environmentally unfriendly.

Williams explained that the burning of crude oil-laden vessels disposes a high level of chemical content into the water bodies that destroys the eco lives and aquatic organisms that humans need to survive.

He said: “Destroying such vessels with their content produces high level chemical debris that follows tidal movement to other parts of the country.”

“This kind of devastation destroys the aquatic organisms needed to satisfy man’s nutritional and survival needs.

“What it discharges includes chemical contents from the crude oil and the vessels that are harmful to the human health. The health implications of such activities may not have immediate effects but will be transferred to the people who inhabit in these areas, as the primary occupation of the riverine people are fishing and farming, which is dependent on the surrounding waters,”  he stated.

He further explained that the destruction of crude oil-laden vessels would also deprive the people of their sources of livelihood, when the chemical waste from the burnt vessels and crude oil comes in contact with the environment, killing aquatic life and poisoning the surrounding soil.

Commenting on the economic implication of such activities, Williams said destroying and wasting away stolen crude is a disfavour to the country’s economy, as such crude oil could generate funds that would build infrastructures and better the lives of the people.

 He added: “Such action wipes away the key principles of the rule of law, as the chances of conviction or proper acquittal are no longer visible. This is a denial of justice to the country, the individuals involved and the victims of their negative operational conducts and activities.”

Williams called on military and security operatives to put an end to the burning of crude oil vessels, as it is goes against every tenet of environmental protection and environmental health.