CAPPA - VIRTUAL MEETING

 

CAPPA – Virtual Meeting on Exposing the Impacts of the TNOCs in the Frontline Communities of Africa

The Corporate Accountability Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) held a virtual meeting for partners to showcase their findings on the impacts of the Trans-National Oil Corporations in the frontline communities like Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Gambia. This took place on September 27, 2023.

During the welcome address, Akindode Olu Wafemi from Nigeria expressed gratitude for the extensive involvement of partners on providing the findings of the activities of the TNOCs. He explained that, the voices of the communities have not been properly highlighted making their plight unheard and neglected. For that reason, there was the need for advocates to escalates and highlights the voices and plights of these community members on government policies that have not initially been protecting them; and to also ensure that their loss and damages are at the core and heart to be redressed.

In the presentation, Hellen Neima from Corporate Accountability, briefly explained the MBPP (Make Big Polluters Pay) campaign as it been launched on September 2019 basically to protect the rights of frontline communities and ensure that, those who are responsible for climate crisis are sanctioned for alternative patterns for preparations whether local, national or international. She emphasized on an instance of some evidences collected in Olisa District of Uganda where Total Energies infiltrated their lands and destroyed the community livelihoods. The environment and human rights of that community members were violated and as part of the MBPP campaign they supported to make the polluters pay.

Findings from the frontline communities

Nigeria

Olamide Ogunlade from Nigeria shared their findings concerning the activities of the TNOCs in Numerica, the Delta Sate of Nigeria. From the findings, the oil company involved in this detriment was called Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC). This SPDC, made community members suffer from gas flares making it unbearable for them to live harmoniously. But it was discovered that, even though the SPDC have left the shores and was demanded to pay what is termed as commissioner’s compensation, they passed through a liability to a local entity now called, ND West Done. This have left unknown traces of messes created by SPDC which is till affecting the community members.

On the part of the environment, findings prove that, the operations of the ND West Done is making life unbearable for the people since there have been testimonies of flues heavy enough to cause trach infections, oesophagus infections and others. Aside that, in terms food security, the water has been contaminated preventing its usage and causing a collapse on their occupation which is fishing, as well as damaging part of their quarry system. The heavy vibrations from their machines have also caused cracks on their buildings and community members are appealing for support and assistance on the loss and damages because there have been disconnections of government policies concerning their plight.

Gambia

Dawda Cham, from Gambia shared his insights of the activities of TNOCs in Mandinari, a small community along river Gambia and it is known for fishing activity as well as agriculture. He explained that, the findings were done in that community because of the heavy spillage that occurred last year 28^th May, 2022 in that country. According to him, the facility was built in that community due to lack of space to house it and members wanted justice after the spillage but to no avail. So as advocates, they chose that community for the voices and plights of the people to be heard by the government. The company is also the largest oil trading facility built by the government in 2008 costing about USD15million.

This heavy spillage that occurred last year of about 1400hours, were 70 metric tons of heavy fumes discharged into their river. Community members alleged that aside the spillage, they have seen oils in the river and the company discharging their waste into it as well. This has affected their fishing activities and had led to huge pollution along the river banks, destructing their economic activities.

Moreover, the spillage has caused the waters to be hot preventing the people from swimming and pushing fishes away. Whilst In terms of loss and damages, nothing has also been done to compensate them; creating huge disappointment. This is because, every fisherman is required to pay a license fee upon the license given to them to fish. Yet still, their concerns are not been addressed.

Ghana

Godfred Tweneboa Kodua on behalf of Labram Musah gave insights of the impacts TNOCs activities in Shama community. He explained that, Shama was the targeted community because of its allocation at the shoreline and its proximity to the Jubilee oil field in Ghana. From the findings, the people of Shama had limited consultation before the companies like Tullow, ENI and Kosmos Energy started to invade on the sea to get oil.

These activities have caused loss of jobs for the people in Shama. The reason is, their fishing and fishing related activities have collapsed as a result of the exclusion zones created in the sea which has made fishes to go and settle under it, and the discharge of unknown water into the sea by ships coming for these oils.

Aside that, fishermen are restricted by these oil companies on certain parts on the sea not to fish. Which a flout of these orders, will result in navy men abusing them, ceasing their canoes and destroying their nets. So, they expressed concerns of damages caused on their livelihoods, the unfulfilled promises and appeal that, funds should be provided to address their situations and be able to venture into a more-profitable businesses as well.

Kenya

Winnie Ayieko from Kenya briefly reported that, the community of focus of this research was the Mijikenda community which is located right within where the TNOCs activities are taking place and it is called Shell; the largest oil producing company in Kenya. In diverting into their findings, she said the land of that community has been captured by the oil companies and this the major farming land for that community. As a result, there have been relocation of community members to different places to settle.

Furthermore, the casual laborers working for this oil company lack protective gadgets when working. There have been instances where workers will be walking around with oil in their palms and nothing to protect them from inhaling these oils. Which has resulted in them contacting diseases and plead that, the oil company will provide funds to clean up the contaminated land, their waters and possibly provide them with protective gadgets as well.

 

In conclusion, Olamide Ogunlade said, the findings from the various community frontline indicate that, there are similarities of the impacts of the Trans-National Oil Corporations and the actual launch of the report will be disseminated in November.

NOTE:  The Ugandan Component could not deliver their report because of other occurring emergencies they had to attend.