{"id":3048,"date":"2024-08-31T21:00:12","date_gmt":"2024-08-31T21:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2024\/08\/31\/oil-spill-austin-ozobo-exposes-shells-involvement-says-daily-oil-exploration-activities-systems-failures-contributing-to-oil-spill-in-niger-delta\/"},"modified":"2024-08-31T21:00:12","modified_gmt":"2024-08-31T21:00:12","slug":"oil-spill-austin-ozobo-exposes-shells-involvement-says-daily-oil-exploration-activities-systems-failures-contributing-to-oil-spill-in-niger-delta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2024\/08\/31\/oil-spill-austin-ozobo-exposes-shells-involvement-says-daily-oil-exploration-activities-systems-failures-contributing-to-oil-spill-in-niger-delta\/","title":{"rendered":"OIL SPILL: Austin Ozobo Exposes Shell\u2019s Involvement, Says Daily Oil Exploration Activities, Systems Failures Contributing To Oil Spill In Niger Delta"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Joy Ukaegbu <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comrade Ozobo Austin, a renowned Niger Delta rights and environmental activist, has vehemently countered Shell Petroleum Development Company’s assertions on Vanguard Newspaper on Sunday 31st August, 2024 that oil theft is the primary cause of oil spills in the region. In a scathing response, Ozobo revealed that the actual culprits behind the oil spills are the aging facilities, daily oil exploration activities and system failures, not oil theft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The activist noted that with the presence of Tantita Security Service Limited and other indigenous security companies policing the oil pipelines, oil theft had been significantly reduced to the barest minimum. “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 added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ozobo exposed the real perpetrators of oil theft, pointing fingers at the oil company officials in the Niger Delta who exploit a bad metering system, barging, and under-reporting daily production output. He emphasised that local oil bunkering and oil activities have been curtailed for the past three years, contradicting Shell’s claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The activist argued that Shell’s claim of oil theft being the main cause of oil spills was an attempt to deflect attention from the company’s own negligence and lack of accountability. He pointed out that Shell’s facilities in the Niger Delta are some of the oldest in the world, with some pipelines dating back to the 1960s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His statement highlights the need for a thorough investigation into oil theft and spills, focusing on the root causes rather than scapegoating local communities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Joy Ukaegbu Comrade Ozobo Austin, a renowned Niger Delta rights and environmental activist, has…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3047,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[398,671],"tags":[681,682,683],"class_list":["post-3048","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-metro","tag-oil-spill-austin-ozobo-exposes-shells-involvement","tag-says-daily-oil-exploration-activities","tag-systems-failures-contributing-to-oil-spill-in-niger-delta"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/img_6752-1.jpg?fit=299%2C168&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":907,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2021\/10\/28\/niger-delta-rights-activist-ozobo-calls-for-prosecution-of-police-officer-who-opened-fire-on-protesting-students-in-benin\/","url_meta":{"origin":3048,"position":0},"title":"Niger Delta Rights Activist Ozobo Calls For Prosecution Of Police Officer Who Opened Fire On Protesting Students In Benin","author":"Coastal Times","date":"October 28, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Coastal News Hon. Austin Ozobo. The Special Assistant to the governor of Delta state, Comrade Ozobo Austin has condemned the police shooting of a protesting Ijaw female student in NPDC headquarters in Benin, stressing that the erring police officers must be fetched out to face the music of the law.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Crime"","block_context":{"text":"Crime","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/crime\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/screenshot_20211028-203957_chrome-1.jpg?fit=895%2C671&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/screenshot_20211028-203957_chrome-1.jpg?fit=895%2C671&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/screenshot_20211028-203957_chrome-1.jpg?fit=895%2C671&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/screenshot_20211028-203957_chrome-1.jpg?fit=895%2C671&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3183,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2024\/10\/17\/oil-spill-ndelta-groups-petition-neconde-ask-tinubu-nnpcl-to-terminate-operational-license-pay-n5bn-compensation\/","url_meta":{"origin":3048,"position":1},"title":"OIL SPILL: N’Delta Groups Petition Neconde, Ask Tinubu, NNPCL To Terminate Operational License, Pay N5bn Compensation","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"October 17, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"By Freeborn Abraye Niger Delta environmental protection groups, the Ijaw People's Development Initiative (IPDI) led by Comrade Ozobo Austin and Organisations for Human and Peoples Rights Protection and Humanitarian , (OHPRPH), led by Comrade Ezekiel Kagbala has written an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and group managing director\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/d947b62a-5b59-4378-a5f8-ec10f217f2ea-1.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/d947b62a-5b59-4378-a5f8-ec10f217f2ea-1.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/d947b62a-5b59-4378-a5f8-ec10f217f2ea-1.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/d947b62a-5b59-4378-a5f8-ec10f217f2ea-1.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3038,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2024\/08\/22\/ipdi-honors-tompolo-kestin-godfrey-pondi-for-their-contributions-to-ndeltas-peace-youth-empowerment-security-environmental-sustainability\/","url_meta":{"origin":3048,"position":2},"title":"IPDI Honors Tompolo, Kestin, Godfrey Pondi, For Their Contributions To N\u2019Delta\u2019s Peace, Youth Empowerment, Security, Environmental Sustainability","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"August 22, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"By Joy Ukaegbu The distinguished Comrade Ozobo Austin, the National President of the Ijaw People's Development Initiative (IPDI), has expressed his sincere gratitude for the tireless efforts of the Chairman of Tantita Security Service Limited, Chief (Engr) Kestin Pondi, Tantita's MD, and Tantita's GM, Sir Godfrey Tare Pondi, in promoting\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Community"","block_context":{"text":"Community","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/img_6438-1.jpg?fit=884%2C866&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/img_6438-1.jpg?fit=884%2C866&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/img_6438-1.jpg?fit=884%2C866&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/img_6438-1.jpg?fit=884%2C866&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1231,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2022\/01\/03\/oil-pollution-chief-mulade-charges-niger-delta-leaders-to-save-regions-environment\/","url_meta":{"origin":3048,"position":3},"title":"OIL POLLUTION: Chief Mulade Charges Niger Delta Leaders To Save Region’s Environment","author":"Coastal Times","date":"January 3, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Coastal News Chief Sheriff Mulade, National Co-ordinator\/CEO Center for Peace and Environmental Justice ( CEPEJ ). A renowned environmental rights activist from the Niger Delta extraction, Comrade Chief Mulade Sheriff, has charged stakeholders in the region, especially those in the oil and gas bearing communities, not to compromise by palm\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Environmental"","block_context":{"text":"Environmental","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/environmental\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/screenshot_20220103-145751_whatsapp-1.jpg?fit=845%2C990&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/screenshot_20220103-145751_whatsapp-1.jpg?fit=845%2C990&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/screenshot_20220103-145751_whatsapp-1.jpg?fit=845%2C990&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/screenshot_20220103-145751_whatsapp-1.jpg?fit=845%2C990&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":859,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2021\/10\/20\/nddc-ozobo-faults-forensic-audit-report-over-exclusion-of-akpabio-amongst-looters-calls-on-buhari-to-inaugurate-substantive-board\/","url_meta":{"origin":3048,"position":4},"title":"NDDC: Ozobo Faults Forensic Audit Report Over Exclusion Of Akpabio Amongst Looters, Calls On Buhari To Inaugurate Substantive Board","author":"Coastal Times","date":"October 20, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Coastal News Foremost Niger Delta intellectual agitator, Comrade Ozobo Austin has said that the none inclusion of senator Godswill Akpabio as one of the looters of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has rendered the forensic audit report useless. The Niger Delta opinion leader said Akpabio held sway NDDC while\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Crime"","block_context":{"text":"Crime","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/crime\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20211019_18122728129_1-1.jpg?fit=592%2C375&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20211019_18122728129_1-1.jpg?fit=592%2C375&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20211019_18122728129_1-1.jpg?fit=592%2C375&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2212,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2024\/05\/01\/oil-thieves-behind-call-to-review-tompolos-surveillance-contract__group-tells-tinubu\/","url_meta":{"origin":3048,"position":5},"title":"Oil Thieves Behind Call To Review Tompolo’s Surveillance Contract__Group Tells Tinubu","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"May 1, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"By Freeborn Abraye The Ijaw People's Development Initiative, IPDI has strongly condemned calls by Oodua Peoples Congress (Reformed) and Civil Society Coalition For Mandate Protection for calling to review Niger Delta Pipeline Surveillance Contract, awarded to the Niger Delta Ex-agitator, High Chief (Dr) Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo. IPDI, in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/img_1477-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/img_1477-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/img_1477-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/img_1477-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/img_1477-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pfDfBE-Na","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3048","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3048"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3048\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3047"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3048"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3048"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3048"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}