Massive Oil Spill from NNPCL Pipeline Devastates Rivers Communities

An oil spill from a ruptured Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) pipeline has wreaked havoc on Iloma community and several neighboring communities in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The spill, which began at approximately 7:00 PM on Saturday, November 23, 2024, rapidly spread through creeks and rivers due to strong water currents, devastating the local environment and displacing residents. Affected communities include Iloma, Epelema, Orupiri, Ayaminima, Minima, Oloma, and Oguede, among others.

Environmental and Safety Risks

Iloma community was particularly hard hit, with crude oil splashing onto roofs, farmlands, and gardens, creating a significant fire hazard. Residents were forced to evacuate as the risk of fire ignition from routine activities like cooking became imminent.

Eyewitness accounts describe extensive contamination, with crude oil saturating creeks, rivers, and rivulets. Marine commuters reported having to navigate extremely slowly to avoid sparking fires in the oil-soaked waterways. In addition, residents of affected communities were seen scooping crude oil from the polluted waters in a desperate bid to salvage the spill.

Allegations and Calls for Accountability

At the site of the rupture, maintenance workers claimed the incident was caused by third-party interference, pointing to a flange found on the pipeline. However, local residents, including community member Valentine Hart, disputed this claim, alleging that NNPCL workers, who had recently worked on the pipeline, might be responsible.

Hart demanded a transparent joint investigation visit (JIV) to assess the situation and warned against attempts to cover up the incident. Similarly, Sotonye Allison, Director of Pollution for the Bonny Youth Federation, described the devastation as massive and called for immediate containment measures.

Youth leader Arnold Hart lamented the destruction of the community’s livelihood, stating, “We can no longer fish or farm due to the massive volumes of crude oil contaminating our land and water.”

John Abbey, a resident of Epelema, recounted hearing a loud explosion on the evening of the spill, followed by sustained splashes of crude oil that reached the height of a communications mast. He emphasized that the spill has left the community’s economy and environment in ruins.

Urgent Interventions Needed

Environmental stakeholders have urged NNPCL to take swift action to contain the spill and mitigate its impact. Some have called for the arrest of maintenance workers present at the site, pointing to the suspicious flange as evidence of possible foul play.

The spill has significantly disrupted maritime activities in the region, with water bodies at risk of inflammation from any spark or ignition.

Awaiting Official Response

As of the time of this report, NNPCL has yet to release an official statement on the incident. Residents and environmental advocates continue to call for immediate intervention and long-term solutions to prevent future occurrences.