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Tag: oil spill

  • FG cleans 1,700 hectares of Ogoni shoreline, trains 2,500 youths, women in oil spill response

    FG cleans 1,700 hectares of Ogoni shoreline, trains 2,500 youths, women in oil spill response

    The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, has announced that the federal government, through the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), has successfully cleaned up 1,700 hectares of oil-polluted shoreline in Ogoniland and trained 2,500 Ogoni youths and women in oil spill response and remediation.

    Speaking at the Federal Ministry of Information’s annual press briefing in Abuja, the minister highlighted the cleanup as a major milestone in the government’s efforts to address the environmental damage caused by decades of oil exploration and spills in Rivers State.

    He noted that those trained were awarded the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Level 1 and 2 certifications—globally recognised credentials in oil spill response.

    This initiative, he said, is part of the federal government’s broader strategy to restore Ogoniland and empower local communities through skills development and job creation.

    Lawal added that work is actively ongoing at 39 remediation sites across Rivers State, including the cleanup of 125.39 hectares of medium-risk oil-contaminated soil and groundwater. The project has also led to the direct employment and training of 1,453 Ogoni youths.

    “The Ogoni cleanup is gradually nearing completion,” the minister assured, reiterating the government’s commitment to environmental restoration and sustainable development in the region.

    “Under this Administration, the Ministry initiated the world’s most extensive mangrove restoration in Ogoniland by HYPREP. The pilot phase of 560ha is 85% completed, with over 2 million seedlings comprising red, black, and white mangrove species planted. This is the first mangrove restoration in Nigeria involving the planting of different species. 540 Ogoni youths and women were employed as community workers under the mangrove restoration project.

    Read Also: Ogoni cleanup close-up

    “The Ministry, under President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration, commissioned 9 out of 10 gigantic operational water treatment stations in Ogoni land under HYPREP. These water stations are now supplying potable water to over 30 communities in Ogoni land, the area.

    HYPREP is building a 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital, which is at 67% completion stage and another 40-bed Buan Cottage Hospital at 90% completion to address the health-related issues in Ogoniland. Four (4) existing hospitals have also been upgraded and strengthened in Ogoniland (Bori, Kpite, Nchia, and Terabo) with state-of-the-art medical equipment to support the institute. 

    Lawal added that the construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER) is at 80% completion. When completed, it will serve as an international hub for advanced innovative research in remediation and a repository of the extensive remediation and restoration data in the Ogoni cleanup that is being generated. A Faculty of Vocational Skill Acquisition will be attached to the Centre.

    Again, 300 Ogoni postgraduate students were offered scholarships in various institutions in Nigeria, and 390 secondary school students have benefited from HYPREP’s vocational training. The Nigerian Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NODSRA) is to regulate Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and to implement the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCOP) with the mandate to oversee remediation efforts.

    In addition, the minister said, the department of afforestation has planted over 4 million trees in collaboration with the National Agency for Great Green Wall (NAGGW) and Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) across the country to combat deforestation and desertification.

    Massive afforestation programs are being carried out in Bagga Forest Reserve, Tila, Arewa LGA of Kebbi State, as well as Agwada Kokona LGA of Nasarawa State and Karara, Lokoja LGA, Kogi State by the Ministry, even as the Ministry commenced the implementation of a Bamboo development factory in Kogi State to promote Bamboo and Rattan Economy in Nigeria in line with the diversification drive of the Renewed Hope Administration.

    Feasibility studies for the development of Seven more Bamboo factories are ongoing in Ogun, Cross Rivers, Kaduna, Edo, Benue, Ekiti and Taraba States, with the Department of Forestry recently receiving and handing over eleven (11) 20-feet containers of logs (semi-processed wood) feet that were intercepted and confiscated by the Nigeria Customs Service. 

  • Oil spill ravages Rivers community

    Oil spill ravages Rivers community

    An oil spill, reportedly caused by the activities of vandals, has devastated the Ikata community in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    Executive Director of the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, confirmed the incident on Monday.

    According to Fyneface, the spill occurred in the early hours of the day along a 14-inch pipeline right of way operated by Renaissance Africa Energy Company Ltd (RAEC). 

    The company recently acquired the assets of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in a $2.4 billion divestment deal.

    Fyneface said members of Advocacy Centre’s One Million Youth Volunteers Network of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters in the Niger Delta, as well as those under the auspices of its Crude Oil Spill Alert System (COSAS) in the area, reported the spill to the centre. 

    Read Also: Oil spill: Bayelsa community laments neglect, pollution of river, creeks

    He said the spill point, suspected to be third-party interference was seriously spilling crude oil into the environment and destroying the ecosystem in the surrounding area.  

    He said that the visit by his group’s volunteers in the area to the spill site showed that the vandals allegedly excavated the ground and vandalised the 14-inch pipe along the Okordia-Rumuekpe pipeline right of way.

    He said the compromised section was spewing crude oil into the environment and called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to carry out a joint investigation visit (JIV) to determine the actual cause of the spill and invoke the relevant section of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021, to hold the alleged perpetrators to account.

  • Oil spill: Bayelsa community laments neglect, pollution of river, creeks

    Oil spill: Bayelsa community laments neglect, pollution of river, creeks

    The Obololi community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has expressed their distress that no relief has been provided following the oil leak on February 16, which discharged crude oil and contaminated the Obololi River and surrounding creeks. 

    The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) traced the source of the leak to a 16-inch underwater pipeline running from Nun River to Kolo Creek, operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). 

    In an interview, the Chairman of the Obololi Community Development Committee (CDC), Goodnews Okoi, stated that the coastal community is experiencing severe water scarcity amid a cholera outbreak throughout the state. 

    The CDC Chairman noted that, due to the pollution of the Obololi River, which the residents previously relied upon for drinking and domestic use, they are forced to resort to purchasing sachet water at prohibitive prices.

    Okoi said, “We feel abandoned; this oil spillage has adversely impacted the entire community. We have suspended our fishing vacation as our farmlands and creeks are also not spared.

    “The cost of water has gone up by approximately 100 per cent to N50 naira per sachet and N800 per bag, the hardship is so much, given the general economic hardship.

    “Sadly, the operator of the facility has not shown any concern on the sufferings caused by the spill.

    “In fact, what the officials of SPDC tell us is that unless the Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) concludes on equipment failure, SPDC will not act.

    Read Also: Governor Diri calls for urgent action on oil spill in Bayelsa community

    “Also, we have been expecting reliefs from the state government following the visit of Bayelsa Commissioner for Environment.

    “The local government Chairman, Target Segibo, offered to rehabilitate an existing borehole. They started repairs, but the submersible pump failed, and they are yet to procure a replacement.”

    Okoi noted that the oil firm had yet to engage the community on the recommendations by NOSDRA to divert the river to enable access to the leak point.

    He explained that the community is nursing fear that creating a dam to divert the river will distort the navigability of the river.

    The CDC chair further said: “This recommendation by NOSDRA is of great concern to us. How will the boats that bring goods, merchandise, and essential items come in? The SPDC has to factor these concerns and make the operations have a human face.

    “Look at what we have been going through since the middle of February till date and the company has not provided any form of support in the face of the impact of the spill.”

    It was further learnt from Obololi community sources that the recovery of spilled crude into plastic tanks was already ongoing.

    A spokesman for SPDC, Mr Michael Adande, earlier said that the oil firm had shut oil feeds into the leaking pipeline.

    Adande pledged to update on relief, remediation, and response efforts but had yet to do so.

  • Aiteo resumes production at OML 29 after oil spill

    Aiteo resumes production at OML 29 after oil spill

    An indigenous oil company, Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company (AEEPCO), operator of the NNPC/Aiteo Joint Venture at OML 29 has said it has completed a joint investigative visit to a recent spill site in Nembe Local Government Area.

    AEEPCO also said that its affected facility is safe to be reopened for production.

    A statement by the Group Head, Strategic Communications, Media & Events at Aiteo Group, Ndiana Matthew, said on Saturday that the joint investigative visit to the spill site was attended by all stakeholders as required by regulations.

    Read Also: NPFL: Sporting Lagos rally fans against  Shooting Stars

    He said that while production continues other statutory spill management protocols will run concurrently.

    Consequently, AEEPCO’s Group Managing Director, Victor Okoronkwo, was quoted as saying: “After a comprehensive evaluation of our operations and infrastructure at the Nembe Swamp Field, we are delighted to confirm the resumption of production activities.

    “Our dedicated team has worked diligently to address the issues caused by the recent incident and implemented enhanced safety protocols to prevent future occurrences.

    “We have engaged with regulatory bodies, local communities, and stakeholders to ensure transparency and accountability throughout this process.”

  • Aiteo shuts production in Bayelsa field over oil spill

    Aiteo shuts production in Bayelsa field over oil spill

    An Indigenous oil firm, Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company (AEEPCO), has said it has temporarily shut down production at its Nembe field in response to an oil spill.

    Aiteo, in a statement dated June 18, 2024 on Wednesday in Yenagoa by its spokesperson, Ndiana Matthew, confirmed the Monday oil leak from its facility.

    The statement reads: “Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company (AEEPCO), operator of the NNPC / Aiteo Joint Venture on OML 29, confirms it has detected an oil leak at its Nembe swamp facility in OML 29, Nembe Kingdom, Bayelsa State.

    “The leak was reported on Monday, June 17, 2024, during routine operations. AEEPCO’s Oil Spill and Emergency Response Team was immediately activated and all production from OML 29 shut down.

    “This is a precautionary measure while mobilizing additional resources to contain the spill.

    “The cause of the spill is currently undetermined. However, we are proactively engaging with stakeholders to mitigate the immediate effects.”

    Read Also: Court dismisses N143b oil spill claims against Mobil

    Commenting on the incident, AEEPCO’s Group Managing Director, Victor Okoronkwo, said: “During our operations on Monday, June 17, 2024, the leak was detected. 

    “A Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) with stakeholders has been initiated to determine the cause of this incident.

    “While we regret the production losses to the Joint Venture and the nation and the potential environmental impact, our current priority is to expedite an efficient spill management process in line with regulatory standards and collaborate with all stakeholders to restore production and mitigate associated risks.”

    He said Aiteo’s joint venture partners and the relevant regulators: The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) had been notified of the incident.

  • Oil Spill: Communities threaten to stop Pipeline repair

    The people of Agge, Kandaghan and Ekogbene communities in Bayelsa state are spoiling for a fight with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) over issues arising from the May 17 crude oil spill from the company’s Trans-Ramos Pipeline.

    The communities expressed displeasure at SPDC’s response and management of the spill, and threatening to stop the ongoing repair work on the strategic pipeline, if their communities are not carried along as and provided relief materials.

    IN a joint press release by the leaders of the clans, they claimed that SPDC “deliberately delayed the mandatory Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to the spill site and it took two weeks for the SPDC to agree to provide logistics for NOSDRA and the other regulators to visit the spill site.”

    The release was signed by Messrs Arthur Bendiwei, Egburu Dehmeon Wuka, Eric Paka and Moses for Agge; Egboru Asubor, Bunky England and Martins Tuduo, for Ekogbene and Monday Etoige and Oborowei Fred, for Kandaghan.

    It accused the agencies of following SPDC on a ‘guided tour’, without recourse to extant law and sincerity in ascertaining the extent of the damages, despite its letters to NOSDRA notifying it on the spill and the need to carry out a timely JIV.

    “This so-called JIV, which for all intents and purpose was to ascertain the cause, extent of the spill, volume of the spill and delineation of the impacted communities, has remained inconclusive because SPDC is the one to pick and choose communities impacted by her oil spillage.”

    SPDC’s Bamidele Odugbesan, told newsmen it was too early for the communities to cry foul, stressing, “We all know that JIV is a process involving regulators, government, operators, the communities and others, who will all signed off the outcome in a final report.”

    “It would not be right to raise allegations when the process has not been concluded. It is the report signed into by all the parties that will determine the genuineness of allegations and provide resolutions too,” he stated.

    Meanwhile, the communities queried the use of helicopter to overfly and delineate the impacted communities against the provisions of the NOSDRA Act and Regulations.

    “Again, SPDC by her whims has singlehandedly chosen to provide relief materials to the community which has the spill point leaving out all other communities that share the same body of water, which is the River Ramos, into which volumes of crude oil spilled.

    “It should be on record that the spillage was on the Ramos River and all communities within and about the river has the same impact; none has a lesser impact than the other.

    “Therefore, the choice of giving relief materials, which is admission of devastation of the pollution, to one community and leaving the rest by SPDC is an act of provocation and call to anarchy,” the release added.

    The SPDC official clarified that “complaints about the distribution of relief materials would be looked into”

  • Community laments oil spill

    Residents of Agoro Community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa yesterday berated the poor and slow response to an oil spill from shell’s oilfield in the area.

    They appealed to the Federal and Bayelsa governments to come to their aid over the spill incident and compel Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to be alive to its responsibility in spill response.

    The Secretary of Agoro Community Development Committee, Justin Gbagbiri told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview that they were still counting the losses incurred as a result of the incident.

    Reacting to the development, Dr Alice Aje, Manager, Stakeholder Relations at SPDC, said the oil firm was responding to the spill incident and sought the understanding of the community.

    “We regret the spill because it has adversely affected our operations and business, we have shut operations and stopped the spill and we are in talks with our relevant stakeholders.

    “It is our responsibility to clean up the spill and if it was found to be case by equipment failure, we shall pay compensation to those affected, that is our process,” Aje said.

  • Strange things we did after oil spill —Lagos community residents

    THERE is still no respite for residents of Isheri Oshun community, a suburb of Ijegun area of Lagos State, after the oil spill that threw the community into panic early Thursday morning.

    The embattled residents, who spoke with The Nation, were yet to overcome the shock they suffered as a result of the incident which they said would have wiped out the entire community had there been a spark of fire when the fume enveloped the area.

    Paralysed by the fear of the imminent danger, the respondents shared the weird decisions they took while fleeing their homes.

    “When I sensed danger, I quickly went to where I kept my money and took everything. I also took my ATM card so that if the unexpected should happen, I would have something to take care of myself and my household for about two weeks. That was the thought that came to my mind and I immediately acted on it,” a resident who gave her name as Akpo Nkiruka said.

    Reliving her experience, Nkiruka said: “I perceived a thick smell of fume around 12:30am. I stood and checked round the house but did not see anywhere that petrol leaked in the house and newt back to bed.

    Thereafter, I heard a woman shouting that everybody should come out because vandals had tampered with the pipeline. Initially, I was reluctant to go out because I thought it was a decoy by robbers. Later, my son said I should go out because people were gathered outside.  It was at that point that I went out to see how the oil was gushing out. The height was higher than this electricity pole.  I quickly left the house with my children that odd hour of the night. We just came back today after the dust had settled. Many residents are still living in fear in spite of the fact that the situation is very calm now. I want to appeal to the appropriate authorities to do something about our power supply.”

    Another resident, Akogun Ayodele, told The Nation that what came to his mind while fleeing his apartment was to carry his small bag.

    “I took my small bag and left when danger was looming. I became aware of the incident around 3am. Like every other resident, I thought it was fuel leakage in a nearby place but later observed it was from the pipeline because the fume was too choking. The people who woke earlier started raising the alarm that we should all wake up and leave our apartments.”

    •Different scenes of the oil spill
    •Different scenes of the oil spill

    Even though the spilled oil has evaporated, Ayodele told our correspondent that the product sipped into the well in his compound and has consequently robbed them of the opportunity of getting water to attend to their needs.

    “The maintenance section of the NNPC came and confirmed that the content of the well is 50 per cent fuel. That is a huge problem for us because that is the water we depend on for our house chores. We were all scared when the fume enveloped the community because fire is not any man’s friend.”

    A landlord, who gave his name as Moshood Obabiyi, said he didn’t remember to wear his trouser while fleeing his house. “We all ran in different directions when the ugly incident occurred. I ran away without waiting to wear trouser. It was only the jalamia (Islamic gown) that I had on me that I wore while fleeing. We are still worried by the development. The incident is the first of its kind since I started living here 30 years ago. The government and the relevant agencies should take proactive steps to avert a reoccurrence and the attendant challenges.”

    Speaking, the team leader of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps guarding the area, Michael Adebayo, said his team is on top of the situation.

    “We got the information and quickly deployed our officers to protect the lives and property of the residents. Some of them slept here to make sure there was sanity. Almost all the wells on one of the streets are polluted. We have sent information to the appropriate authorities. We are on top of the situation, as you can see, our officers watching over the entire area.”

  • Oil spill: Minister challenges NOSDRA to sanction erring companies

    Minister of State for Environment Ibrahim Jibril has directed the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to sanction oil companies polluting the environment and flouting the environmental law.

    The Minister made the call while inaugurating boards of the six agencies and parastatals under supervision of the ministry at the weekend in Abuja.

    The agencies include National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), National Park Service (NPS), NOSDRA, Forestry Research Institute on Nigeria (FRIN), National Agency for Great Green Wall (NAGGW) and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).

    Jibril, who emphasised needs to protect the ecosystem for better healthy living and future generation, directed the newly inaugurated board members to partner with management of the agency to achieve mandates of the respective agencies.

    He advised the board members to stay away from any form of malpractice that could jeopardise national interest and adhere by the rules guiding their appointments.

    While inaugurating the boards, the Minister canvassed their support in implementing various treaties signed by the country at international conferences.

    On the Nigerian National Parks, he lamented that the Parks are not well protected, necessitating the creation of the National Park Service, adding that it was important for the board to support the vision.

    He lamented while Nigerians make pepper soup with its wildlife such as Gorillas, a single gorilla in Rwanda could attract $1m annually through tourism.

    He said the FRIN has the mandate among others to increase the nation’s forest cover.

    However, the Minister lamented that the country has only 25 per cent of forest coverage, which he said was lower compared to what is obtainable in terms of international standards.

    Ben Owaobase was appointed board Chairman of the NPS with Joko Pelumi, Surveyor General of the Federation, NESREA, Nigeria Conservation are board members.

    NOSDRA has Senator Ayo Akinyedure as chairman while representatives from Ministry of Communication, Aviation, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) were among the board members.

    Barrister Iyiola Oladokun was appointed NESREA Board Chairman with Peter Ako, Mr. Aleshinloye, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) as members.

    NAGGW has Barrister Gbadegesin Adedeji as chairman while Tosin Ayoade, Ayuba Bello, Mrs. Salome Jalome, Abubakar Gada, FMENV, Federal Ministry of Sport, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, FMARD, Permanent Secretary, Ecological Firm and Director General NAGGW are members.

  • Oil Spill: Environmentalist seeks help for impacted community

    An Environmentalist, Mr Alagoa Morris, has written a protest letter to vernor Seriake Dickson, deploring the poor response to oil pollution incidents in Bayelsa.

    The environmental rights activist, in the letter availed to newsmen on Sunday, lamented the state government’s silence on the lingering oil spillage incident at Yiba-Ama community in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.

    Morris, also the project officer and head of Environmental Rights Action Niger Delta Resource Centre, regretted that proceeds from oil derivation accruing to the state were not being channelled to conservation.

    The letter, dated May 31 and titled, “A Case of Gross Negligence, Brazen Act of Corporate Social Irresponsibility (CSI) and Environmental Terrorism Against Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC)”.

    The letter was routed through the office of the Commissioner for Environment to gov .Dickson.

    It was also copied to the Speaker of the House of Assembly and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of the state.

    The oil spill occurred in June 2015 from SPDC’s 20-inch Rumuekpe-Kolo Creek Trunkline at Odau community in Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers, and flowed to Yiba-Ama, a border community in Bayelsa.

    Morris said that ERA/FoEN had visited the impacted sites six times where swamps, ponds and the general environment of the community had been destroyed.

    According to him, SPDC had been allegedly foot-dragging to commence clean-up of the area for the past two years despite public outcry.

    “The owner of the oil facility, SPDC, has continued to shirk from its responsibility to effect containment, clean-up and remediation of the impacted sites.

    “Shell has done nothing, practically nothing whatsoever, about this nagging issue which has serious implications on the well- being of the environment, health and livelihood of the people of Yiba-Ama community and, by extension, Bayelsa State.”