B-Dere oil spill: Environmental activists demand swift intervention

Alarmed by the devastating impact of oil spill in B-Dere community, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State since May 6, 2025, environmental activists have called on relevant agencies such as NOSDRA, NESRA, MENA and HYPREP to wade in immediately and stop the flowing of the crude and ensure a cleanup of the community.

The Executive Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, Dr Nnimmo Bassey, who spoke when the organisation’s team as well as other civil society organisations visited the scene of the incident wondered why government and other oil companies operating in the area had failed to stop the spill after one week of its occurrence.

He said the development was an indication of government’s negligence and laxity on the welfare of the people.

Nnimmo while calling for remediation of environment sought a thorough health audit on the exposed people of the community as well as the decommissioning of aged oil facilities.

He said, “We are in a disaster zone and further disasters can erupt from even an accidental a spark of fire. The slow response of government and oil companies underscores the lack of care for the people and the environment.

“This level of laxity is absolutely unconscionable. The fact that this spill that happened a week ago is yet to be stopped sends a very strong point to why government should focus on cleaning up Ogoniland and not seek to open new oil wells. The old wells should be shut down, and decommissioned. Our communities must not continue to be sacrificed on the altar of petro dollars.

“The government cannot be silent at a time as this. This is a time when all agencies should be here to stop halting the shit down the pipeline, stop the pollution and carry out urgent clean up and remediation. We call on NOSDRA, NESRA, MENA and HYPREP to move into swift action to stem the unfolding ecological and human crises.”

Also speaking, Celestine Akpobari stated, “This is one of the reasons why we have rejected the idea of restarting oil exploitation in Ogoni. The exploitation has not started, but the situation is becoming more volatile with spills of this nature.

“This is supposed to be a remediation site, but as you can see it is an ecological crime scene. We are afraid that if this is not properly contained, the damage will be far worse than what we see.”

Meanwhile, many of the B-Dere community people have been internally displaced while those already impacted by the spill are living in fear over their health and safety.

Some of them who spoke in distress called on government to help them and forestall the impending disaster.

The woman leader of the community, Chief Mrs Augustina Biebie, disclosed, “The spill brought crude oil into houses of many of our people. The thick smell of crude oil has affected our health. Breathing has become a problem, and it has become difficult to even feed because some of us cannot light fires in our kitchens.”

On his part, Pastor Kpobari Bani, whose house was affected, said, “Since this incident started, I have not been able to cook for fear of explosion. My mother has been displaced and has moved to a neighbour’s house for fear of the explosion.

“Shell said it has sold to Renaissance Oil, who now owns the pipeline. So we call on them to come and stop the spill. We also call on the government and other relevant authorities to come to our aid and bring remedy to the land.”

The Trans Niger Pipeline, it was gathered erupted and triggered streams of crude oil flowing through B-Dere community, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The incident happened on May 6th, 2025, and the cause of the explosion is said to be equipment failure.

B-Dere oil spill: Environmental activists demand swift intervention