Nigerian Rights Group Reports Fresh Spills in Oil Region

A Nigerian rights group on Saturday reported fresh spills from a pipeline operated by Agip, the local subsidiary of Italian oil group Eni, in a community in the southern oil state of Bayelsa.

The Environmental Rights Action (ERA)/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (FoEN), said in a statement it visited Kalaba community on Friday and observed five spill points on the pipeline which was spewing oil into the environment.

"While two of the spill points are spewing semi-refined petroleum products, the other three points were spraying real crude oil into the air and surrounding environment in gaseous form," it said.

The group said heavy volumes of crude oil were observed in and around the spill point environment, settling on vegetation, land and water surfaces.

ERA urged Agip to clean up the oil and compensate the affected community.

"Agip should stop applying double standards in responding to oil spills. The company should mobilize to the site and, not only stop the spills, but clean up the impacted environment properly," it said.

Agip officials were not immediately available for comment, but pipeline damage and associated spills are common in the Niger Delta region as a result of oil theft to feed the lucrative black market.

Nigeria is Africa's largest crude producer, accounting for a daily export of more than two million barrels.