– YEAC-Nigeria demands urgent action
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — A fresh crude oil spill has rocked Oshika community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, sparking environmental concerns and calls for accountability.
The spill was discovered in the early hours of the day on a pipeline right of way operated by Renaissance Africa Energy Company Ltd, the firm that recently took over assets divested by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of Nigeria.
According to YEAC-Nigeria’s youth volunteer network, which is part of the One Million Youth Volunteers Network of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters in the Niger Delta and the Crude Oil Spill Alert System, the exact cause of the spill is yet to be determined.
Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, said the organisation has notified the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, and called for an immediate Joint Investigation Visit to ascertain the cause and scale of the spill.
“We call on NOSDRA to carry out a timely joint investigation visit to the site and invoke relevant sections of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, to hold those responsible accountable,” Dr. Fyneface said.
“The operator must also urgently clamp the spill point to prevent further environmental damage to the flora and fauna in the affected area.”
YEAC-Nigeria emphasized the need for swift response and transparency in managing the incident, especially given the increasing frequency of oil-related environmental degradation in the Niger Delta.
The spill adds to growing concerns about the environmental impact of aging and vulnerable oil infrastructure in the region, especially following recent transitions in asset ownership from multinationals to local operators.
In a swift response, Renaissance Africa Energy Company Ltd confirmed the incident, attributing the spill to an illegal connection on the pipeline.
“The Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited confirms a report of an illegal connection which has resulted in a spill incident from the 14-inch Okordia–Rumuekpe Pipeline at Oshika in Rivers State,” said Michael Adande, the company’s spokesperson.
“Immediate steps are being taken to isolate and discontinue production into the pipeline to minimise any potential environmental impact. We have informed Government Regulators, and are coordinating the statutory joint investigation visit, which will be led by their representatives and include representatives from the local community for purposes of determining the cause and impact of the incident.”
The incident once again highlights the fragile nature of pipeline infrastructure in the Niger Delta and the mounting pressure on indigenous firms now managing divested assets to ensure environmental compliance and operational security.
As of press time, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, has not issued a public statement or confirmed when a Joint Investigation Visit will take place.
