Key Points
- Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the Bille Kingdom in Rivers State have called for an immediate government intervention to address a suspected underwater gas eruption.
- The Environmental Rights Action (ERA) and Social Action visited the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) in Port Harcourt on Tuesday to seek clarity on the regulatory response.
- Residents report “boiling and bubbling” in the waterways and residential areas, alongside frequent fire outbreaks that the community has been forced to manage alone.
- While the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) confirmed an investigation began on March 20, CSOs claim there is still no clear timeline for action.
Main Story
Community leaders from Bille Kingdom and environmental advocacy groups have raised an alarm over a persistent and dangerous gas bubbling incident in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.
During an advocacy visit to the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) on Tuesday, the groups expressed deep concern over what they termed an “inadequate response” from government regulators.
Mr. Kentebe Ebiaridor, Programme Manager of Environmental Rights Action, stated that despite the severity of the eruption, there remains no clear timeline for a definitive solution.
Legal practitioner and community stakeholder Mr. Deinbo described a harrowing scene where the ground and river appear to be “boiling,” with gas escaping in both waterways and residential sectors.
He noted that these eruptions have led to fire outbreaks, which the community has had to contain without professional emergency support.
The CSOs argued that in the absence of a confirmed facility owner, the companies operating within Oil Mining Lease 18 (OML 18) must be held accountable for the environmental impact and safety risks.
The Issues
The primary challenge is the “Regulatory Lag” in identifying the source and ownership of the leaking infrastructure. While the NUPRC acknowledged the incident in a statement by Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan on March 20, the lack of transparency regarding test results has left the community in the dark. Experts warn that this is not just an environmental issue but a burgeoning “Public Health Emergency.” Without a coordinated evacuation plan or emergency containment measures, the risk of a large-scale fire or chronic respiratory illness among residents remains high.
What’s Being Said
- “There is still no clear timeline for action to address the situation,” lamented Mr. Kentebe Ebiaridor, calling for accountability from operators in the OML 18 area.
- Dr. Prince Edegbuo of Social Action warned that the situation could escalate, stating, “residents have the right to know the condition of their environment.”
- Community stakeholder Mr. Deinbo highlighted the physical signs of the crisis: “boiling and bubbling from the ground and river, sometimes within residential areas.”
- Mr. Bello Augustin, Port Harcourt Zonal Head of NOSDRA, assured the delegation that he would “relate its concerns to the appropriate quarters.”
What’s Next
- CSOs have threatened to intensify their advocacy and may push for a formal emergency evacuation plan if the gas bubbling is not contained.
- The community is demanding the immediate release of environmental test results reportedly conducted by regulatory agencies.
- NUPRC and NOSDRA are expected to provide a technical update on the investigation into the OML 18 facility links.
- Stakeholders will monitor the area for further fire outbreaks, with calls for the deployment of specialized oil and gas fire-fighting equipment to the Bille waterfront.
Bottom Line
For the people of Bille Kingdom, the river is literally boiling, yet the regulatory response remains at a simmer. The demand for clarity is no longer just about environmental rights—it is a race against a potential public health and safety catastrophe in one of Rivers State’s key oil-producing corridors.
