…Lawmakers fault slow response, demand urgent action as leak persists nine months after
By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives Committee on the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) has summoned the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Rivers State Government, Degema Local Government Council and representatives of Bille Community over the prolonged gas leak that has continued to threaten lives and livelihoods in Rivers State.
The Committee expressed dissatisfaction with what it described as the slow pace of response to the environmental emergency, warning that nearly nine months after the incident was reported, residents of Bille Community in Degema Local Government Area remain exposed to serious health, environmental and economic risks.
The resolution followed an interactive session held on Thursday at the National Assembly, where lawmakers questioned regulatory agencies over the delay in containing the gas leak and providing adequate relief for affected residents.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Julius Pondi, said the House was determined to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, identify any operational or regulatory failures and ensure that affected communities receive the necessary protection and support.
He said the Committee would also assess whether the emergency response by the relevant agencies and operators had been timely and adequate, as well as examine the status of compensation, environmental remediation and medical interventions for affected residents.
“As representatives of the Nigerian people, we have a constitutional responsibility to ensure that operators in the oil and gas sector comply with environmental laws and that host communities are protected from avoidable environmental and safety hazards,” Pondi said.
He stressed that the Committee’s investigation was not intended to apportion blame but to establish the facts, promote accountability and develop legislative and policy recommendations to prevent similar incidents.
“Our findings will guide reforms aimed at strengthening environmental governance, improving institutional accountability and promoting sustainable development across the South-South region,” he added.
Pondi described the South-South as the economic backbone of Nigeria, insisting that development in the region must not come at the expense of the health, safety and livelihoods of host communities.
Providing an update, Director of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Cyrus Nkangwung, disclosed that the gas leak, first reported on October 25, 2025, remains active.
He explained that the incident was highly unusual because the gas was not escaping from any known oil facility but was naturally bubbling from beneath the ground, making it difficult for experts to determine its exact source.
According to him, the agency, through the Minister of Environment, requested ₦3.4 billion from the Federal Government in February this year to address the emergency, but investigations into the cause of the leak are still ongoing.
“This is not a normal occurrence in the oil industry. The gas is bubbling directly from beneath the ground, and investigations are continuing to establish its source,” Nkangwung told lawmakers.
Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on Host Communities, Hon. Dumnamene Dekor, described the continued suffering of Bille residents as unacceptable, noting that oil-producing communities should not be abandoned while contributing significantly to the nation’s economy.
“Those who lay the golden eggs should not continue to suffer for producing the resources that sustain the entire country,” he said, calling for immediate intervention to safeguard lives and restore the environment.
Representing the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Joseph Ogunsola described the incident as unprecedented within Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
He said the Commission became aware of the gas leak in February 2026 and has since been working with relevant agencies and stakeholders to determine its origin and develop appropriate containment measures.
The Committee directed all relevant stakeholders to intensify efforts towards containing the gas leak and providing immediate relief for affected residents, while reiterating its commitment to ensuring accountability and preventing future environmental disasters in the Niger Delta.
