Communities affected by oil spills in Gokana Local Government Area, Rivers State, may soon have cause to cheer following a recent fact-finding visit by members of the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Host Communities, Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Robinson Dekor, led members of the committee on the visit.

The visit was in response to petition written by the affected communities in June, 2021 to the National Assembly

Dekor later led representatives of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) as well as chiefs and traditional rulers from the affected communities to visit the hydrocarbon impacted shorelines of the affected communities.

Some of the impacted sites visited include: Kpogbaa in Bomu, Bon Mbabari Asakpugi, Bon Tamana, Bon Tigara, Bon Kolore, Bon Legbaa, Bon Dukori and Naadube, all in Kpor Community of Gokana Local Government Area of the State.

While briefing journalists after the visit, Dekor said the committee was in the area based on a petition to the National Assembly in June 2021.

The House Committee Chairman said the team traversed the communities and their waters and, had an eye contact as well as the claims from the two communities which had to do with the purported spills from a facility owned by Shell which has been on since 2008.

“We just came to verify and try to see if there is any linkage in their claims. That’s why members of this committee are here.