CurrentReport Blog In a heart-wrenching appeal, the women of the Okwuzi community in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State have raised their voices against the persistent gas flaring by Agip Oil Company.
The environmental and health impacts have become unbearable, and they are urging both the government and the oil company to take immediate action to halt these activities.
During an impact assessment interview organized by the Port Harcourt-based NGO, Media Awareness and Justice Initiative (MAJI), Peace Mgbewa, the former Public Relations Officer of the Okwuzi Women Organization, expressed deep concerns over the environmental degradation caused by Agip’s operations. Mgbewa highlighted that the community, once rich in fishing and farming, has seen its resources and way of life devastated by continuous pollution.
“Okwuzi used to be a vibrant fishing zone and a high farming area. These cultures are now extinct due to the pollution of our air, land, and water bodies by AGIP,” Mgbewa lamented.
Gas leaks have forced many from their homes and farmlands, exacerbating the suffering of the community. The health impacts, especially on women, are alarming. Mgbewa noted unusual health issues, including early menopause in young women, frequent body rashes, breast cancer, and eye diseases.
The women of Okwuzi have not been silent. They have protested against gas flaring, demanding an end to the pollution, only to be met with hostility and dismissal from Agip. Mgbewa recounted multiple instances where advocacy efforts were rebuffed by the company.
“Our advocacy team was forcefully chased away when we tried to communicate our demands. Even when we re-strategized, the company’s response was still uncooperative,” she said.
Another community member, Amadi Confidence, a young farmer, shared his distress over the degradation of their farmlands. Fertile soil has turned barren, and traditional fish species like Atabala and Ntia have disappeared from the polluted rivers and creeks.
“Our farmlands and fishing areas were once highly productive. Now, they are shadows of their former selves due to the pollution brought by oil activities,” Amadi explained.
The health crisis extends beyond women, with rising cases of lung disease affecting the broader community.
The Okwuzi community’s plight is a stark reminder of the need for responsible corporate practices and stringent environmental protection policies. The continued negligence by Agip and the lack of governmental intervention have exacerbated the suffering of this community.
The women of Okwuzi are calling for immediate cessation of gas flaring and comprehensive measures to address the pollution and health challenges inflicted upon them.
