Rev. Fr. Kevin O’Hara, a clergyman of The Catholic faith has launched a campaign against oil spillage in the Niger Delta , the clergyman runs an NGO, Stakeholders Alliance for Corporate Accountability and uses it to intensify campaigns against oil spillages in the Niger Delta region, he is organizing an enlightenment/training programme for women in Bayelsa state. The NGO , SACA is funded by Misean Cara of the Republic of Ireland and the St. Patrick’s Missionary Society(SPS) of the Catholic Church.
The programme organized by the NGO drew women leaders from 20 rural communities in Bayelsa State to elucidate their actions against crude oil spillages and its hazards to the environment.
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According to Mr. Ozegbe, The Director of SACA, women were targeted because they stood a better chance to further take the engagement on the dangers of oil spills to the rural communities, he hinted also hinted that the event was specifically focused on women because they bear most of the impact of oil spillage as any harm on children, husbands, wards and the communities impacts on women directly and they are more emotionally stressed than men when their loved ones are sick or dead.
Ozegbe regreted that available data shows that most spillages in the Niger Delta region were caused by individual and groups interfering with oil facilities, thereby posing serious harm to the environment and people in communities and their sources of livelihood.
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“A recent research carried out by Roland Hodler and Anna Bruederle of the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland on the effects of oil spillages in Nigeria showed that anyone who lives 10km away from the site of any oil spill is likely going to be affected by the hazardous impacts of the spills. “We’ve today invited women from 20 communities across the 8 LGAs of Bayelsa state to further enlighten them on the effects of oil spillages. We invited women because they’re the worst hit by these effects.
“it’s widely reported that continuous exposure to crude oil spills causes miscarriage, still birth, deforms children and several neonatal challenges”.
The NGO’s boss added that clinical investigation in Rivers State on persons directly involved in unregulated processing of crude oil, transporting and selling of the products in local communities showed that they have traces of petroleum in their urine and blood, thus, increasing the likelihood of high incidence of cancer and other ailments amongst youths and women in the region. Ozegbe said.
