– Stakeholders demand urgent action
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — A catastrophic oil spill and massive fire outbreak from a wellhead operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL have ravaged Bukuma-Buguma waterways, destroying livelihoods and threatening lives in Rivers State.
The spill, which reportedly began more than four weeks ago in Asari Toru Local Government Area, has escalated into an environmental crisis, with a massive fire outbreak burning for four consecutive days.
Although the cause of the spills and subsequent fire is yet to be ascertained, locals alleged that the inferno began last weekend when the Nigerian Airforce helicopter began air-striking illegal refining sites in the area and accidentally bombed the wellhead.
When journalists attempted to visit the scene, they were barred by gunboats manned by security personnel stationed near the site, raising concerns over accountability.
Meanwhile, community leaders and rights groups have decried the lack of response from the Federal Government, NNPCL, and other relevant agencies.
To this end, the Defense for Human Rights and Democracy, DHRD, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the federal government, demanding immediate containment of the spill, environmental remediation, and compensation for affected residents.
Chairman of DHRD, Mr. Christopher Clifford, warned of mass protests and legal action if their demands are ignored.
“It is alarming that this spill and fire have persisted for days with no visible action from the authorities or the oil companies responsible. This is a gross violation of the people’s right to a safe environment and their means of livelihood.”
Similarly, Comrade Livingstone Membere, President of the Kalabari Youths Federation, alleged that repeated raids by security agents caused the pipeline rupture, which led to the fire.
“This disaster is man-made and avoidable. It’s unacceptable that no officials or emergency responders are on ground to address the situation while the fire continues to spread. Our people deserve better.”
Also, the Youth Leader of Bukuma, Taribo Horsefall, disclosed that the facility was operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, explaining that attempts by the company to fix a ruptured pipeline may have sparked the fire.
Horsefall called for immediate intervention by SPDC and NNPCL, operators of the OML15 facility, to contain the fire and address the spill.
In the same vein, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, YEAC-Nigeria, has criticized the failure of the federal government’s regulatory agencies and OML15 operators to take prompt action to contain the spill and the fire which has devastated aquatic life and polluted the environment.
Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene, Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, said, “The oil spill has been on for weeks, and no meaningful steps have been taken to stop the pollution. The entire aquatic ecosystem in the area is destroyed, and the environment is severely polluted. This negligence is unacceptable.”
YEAC-Nigeria also charged the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, and other regulators to hold the operators accountable for the spill, emphasizing the need for urgent cleanup efforts to prevent the outbreak of diseases in Bukuma and surrounding areas.
“We demand that the operator is held accountable and that immediate steps are taken to clean up the polluted environment. If this situation persists, it will not only lead to environmental collapse but also pose severe health risks to residents.
“The ongoing spill and raging fire are part of a larger pattern of environmental degradation in the Niger Delta, where oil exploration activities have wreaked havoc on ecosystems and communities,” Fyneface said, urging swift intervention to mitigate the long-term impacts of the spill.
As the events unfold, the Niger Delta’s decades-long struggle with oil-related environmental degradation remains unresolved, threatening the survival of its people and their communities.
