Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Federal Government has stepped up intervention to halt recurrent oil spill incidents in Ogoniland, following a high-level inspection of the Kpean oil spill site at Yorla Well 14, amid concerns over prolonged environmental damage and community access disputes.
The inspection, was led by the Director General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, alongside the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Group Managing Director of NNPC Limited, Bashir Ojulari; and Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey.
The Yorla Well 14 spill, located in Kpean community, persisted even after a Joint Investigation Visit, JIV, concluded earlier in December.
Although the source of the spill was identified, repair efforts were delayed after the host community initially denied access to the facility, leading to a secondary spill and prompting urgent federal intervention.
Addressing stakeholders during the visit, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, warned that oil spill incidents in Ogoniland must not be allowed to recur.
“Such incidents must not happen again. We must strengthen surveillance and ensure the protection of critical oil assets and facilities in Ogoniland,” Ribadu said.
The GMD of NNPC Limited, Bashir Ojulari, assured that the company would carry out a comprehensive cleanup and remediation of the impacted area.
“We are committed to a thorough cleanup exercise, guided by detailed technical assessments, to ensure the environment is properly restored,” Ojulari stated.
Speaking at the site, NOSDRA DG, Chief Chukwuemeka Woke, reaffirmed the agency’s mandate to ensure environmental restoration and prevent future incidents.
“We will work closely with all stakeholders to ensure that necessary measures are taken to prevent future oil spills and that responses to incidents are swift and effective,” Woke said.
He stressed that community cooperation remains critical to resolving oil spill challenges, noting that NOSDRA would continue to engage local stakeholders to ensure access, compliance and sustainable environmental protection.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, also underscored the Federal Government’s resolve to protect Ogoniland, describing the inspection as part of broader efforts to address legacy pollution and prevent fresh degradation.
Other senior NOSDRA officials present included the Director of Oil Field Assessment, Dr. Yusuf Rigasa; Zonal Head, Port Harcourt, Mr. Augustine Bello; Head of NOSDRA Reference Laboratory, Dr. Kenneth Aroh; Dr. Ismailia Ahmed Baba; and Mr. Chinedu Ogah.
The visit signals renewed federal resolve to address oil spill recurrence in Ogoniland, enforce accountability, and safeguard the environment in line with ongoing remediation efforts under HYPREP.
