Women from Nembe in Bayelsa State, Friday, protested against Aiteo Eastern and Production Company at its loading point, demanding action following an oil spill on June 17, 2024.
Women from Nembe, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, staged a warning protest on Friday against the operator of Oil Mining Licence 29 – Aiteo Eastern and Production Company. The protesters, who gathered at the company’s loading point, demanded a clean-up following an oil spillage incident that occurred on June 17, 2024.
The protesters, who began at 6:30 am, called for a clean-up, relief materials, and adequate compensation.
The placards carried by the protesters included inscriptions such as “Nembe waters should be properly cleaned up,” “We want compensation for every oil spill now,” and “We want relief materials for all the spill. Aiteo operation is hazardous.” The protest began at about 6:30 am and the women gave Aiteo a two-week ultimatum to meet their demands. Failure to do so would result in the full occupation of the company’s loading point at Nembe Creek.
The protesters brought several pieces of fishing nets, allegedly destroyed by the oil firm’s operations, to the loading facility to highlight Aiteo’s disregard for their livelihood. The leader of the protest, Inigoni Gamage, lamented that there had been several oil spills in the area without compensation. She stated, “We give Aiteo two weeks to meet our demands or we will fully occupy this place. They have refused to provide relief materials including medicines for the people.
Fishing is our traditional occupation but they are delaying the cleanup of the waters, and it is affecting our people.”The community believed that Aiteo was dividing the people through the award of surveillance contracts to individuals and groups not recommended by the community.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Nembe Oil and Gas Committee, George Kumo, reported that several people, allegedly prompted by Aiteo, had been urging the protesting women to leave the facility.
The protesters issued a two-week ultimatum for their demands to be met, threatening to occupy the company’s loading point at Nembe Creek if ignored.