The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) said last week that it was not responsible for the payment of oil spill compensation.
The Unit Commander of the Agency, Mr Francis Umoeka told newsmen in Eket, Akwa Ibom, that, “We are regulators and not in the position to pay oil spill compensation to anybody.’’
“Rather, what DPR does is to make a case and investigate what the person is looking for; we can now recommend him, if he is to be paid compensation or not.’’
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) said last week that it was not responsible for the payment of oil spill compensation.
The Unit Commander of the Agency, Mr Francis Umoeka told newsmen in Eket, Akwa Ibom, that, “We are regulators and not in the position to pay oil spill compensation to anybody.’’
“Rather, what DPR does is to make a case and investigate what the person is looking for; we can now recommend him, if he is to be paid compensation or not.’’
According to him, the agency could only recommend any oil spill affected communities to be paid for compensation and not responsible for the payment of the compensation.
NAN reports that DPR is to regulate activities of operators of oil and gas in the petroleum industries in order to ensure standards, compliance and best international industry practices.
“After thorough investigation, we now recommend him or her to the company and the company may think otherwise, is not automatic, but we as a regulators we do such recommendation.
“If we have a report that there is a spillage and that the environment is polluted, we will get to the root of the matter, we now mediate because things like that is always a volatile case.
“We calm down nerves and now invite both parties to a round table and open up talks; then from there the truth will come out, if we find out that the mistake is from the company.
“If there is a serious damage, we will tell the company that the spill is much and we recommend that adequate compensation be paid to them (victims),’’ Umoeka said.
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