ODSG to meet with Chevron over explosion in Ilaje
From Fasusi Martins, Okitipupa
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Ondo State Government will today meet with Chevron over explosion of its oil wells in Ilaje Local Government area of the state which occurred on Thursday as it appealed to members of the affected host communities to remain calm.
It will be recalled that no fewer than five oil wells exploded in Ajegunle Ikorigho, an oil rich community in Ilaje and spread to communities like Ojumole which is located in Ikorigho land in the local government.
The communities also affected by the explosion included Otumara, Ikorigho, Ajegunle -Ikorigho, Zion Ikorigho, Iluayo, Kindo -Ayera, and Ehinmoghan -Ikorigho.
While speaking with The Hope, the state Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Funso Esan described the fire incident as a very dangerous situation, but was quick to add that the state government is taking it up seriously.
” It was a very bad and dangerous incident, but the government is taking it up seriously. Today, government will be meeting with Chevron, there are some pressing issues apart from the fire incident, we want them to discuss at the stakeholders meeting,”he said.
The Commissioner added that the government has already sent a representative to assess the area and give report on the level of environmental damage caused by the inferno.
In his words “Already the government has sent a representative to know and have overall assessment of the entire area with Chevron, DPR and some members of the communities and they have already written a report on it.”
He stressed that the Chevron is on top of the situation and will not relent until the situation is brought under complete control.
“I think they are on top of the situation, trying to put off the fire, it was a serious matter and it has caused quite a lot of environmental hazards, I was there personally yesterday to see the extent of damages and by today, we will be going there with the Deputy Governor and the team from Chevron,” he stressed.
He however did not rule out the possibility of sabotage from the incident as he said preliminaries report suggested a third party influence which might likely be caused by illegal bunkering activities.
