The House of Representatives Committee on Environment has issued a strong directive to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), demanding immediate action to remediate the devastating impact of a recent oil spill and fire incident on affected communities in Rivers State.
Committee Chairman Rep. Julius Gbabojor, speaking from Abuja following a hearing on a petition against NNPC Eighteen Operating Limited (NEOL), emphasized the urgent need for NNPCL to initiate the cleanup of the affected areas surrounding Well 8, Bukuma, in Degema Local Government Area.
The committee has also mandated NNPCL and NEOL to provide immediate relief to the affected communities by supplying essential materials. To ensure a thorough investigation and allow the companies to respond to the allegations, the committee has granted a three-week extension for further deliberations.
“This hearing has been convened by the Committee on Environment to address a formal complaint against NNPC Eighteen Operating Limited (NEOL),” Gbabojor stated, referencing the petition filed on behalf of the affected Bukuma communities.
The incident, which began with a gas leak on December 1, 2024, at OML 18, Well 8, escalated into a significant environmental catastrophe. A subsequent Joint Investigation Team (JIT), comprising representatives from NNPCL NEOL, NOSDRA, NUPRC, the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, and the Bukuma community, confirmed the severity of the situation.
The spill and fire have resulted in severe air pollution, extensive contamination of water bodies and farmlands, and the destruction of biodiversity and marine habitats, exposing residents to significant health risks and environmental hazards.
“The extent of the devastation is unimaginable,” Gbabojor declared, highlighting the dire conditions faced by the affected communities. Economic activities have ceased, and residents lack access to clean drinking water, medical care, and other basic necessities.
While NNPCL requested a three-week extension to prepare their response, the committee stressed that immediate action is crucial to mitigate the ongoing environmental damage and alleviate the suffering of the affected communities.
