Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the Bille Kingdom in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State have called for urgent government intervention to address a suspected underwater gas eruption occurring in their community.
The groups, operating under Environmental Rights Action and Social Action, made their appeal during an advocacy visit on Tuesday to the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA).
Kentebe Ebiaridor, the Programme Manager for Environmental Rights Action, stated that the purpose of the visit was to gain clarity on how the regulatory authorities were responding to the ongoing situation in the community.
He expressed his concern regarding what he termed “insufficient response” from both regulatory bodies and the government about the incident.
Conversations with various officials indicated that, as of now, there was no established timeline for how the situation would be handled. Ebiaridor pointed out that due to the ambiguity surrounding the ownership of the facility linked to these events, companies operating within Oil Mining Lease 18 should be held responsible.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission had announced, via a statement by its Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan on March 20, that an investigation was underway concerning the gas bubbling incident in Bille Community.
In his remarks, Eyesan confirmed the commission's concern over the situation and reassured residents of its commitment to resolving the issue.
Prince Edegbuo, Resource Justice Manager of Social Action, warned that the unfolding events could escalate into a public health crisis unless prompt measures were taken. He urged authorities to disclose the results of environmental tests claimed to have been conducted in the area, asserting that residents deserve to know the status of their surroundings.
Edegbuo further indicated that CSOs were prepared to intensify their advocacy efforts, urging the development of emergency response protocols, including potential evacuation plans.
Legal practitioner and community member Owandemi Deinbo highlighted a troubling trend of environmental disturbances that have been witnessed for nearly a year.
“For almost a year, we have been observing boiling and bubbling from both land and water bodies, even occurring near residential areas. There have also been instances of fire outbreaks, although local residents have managed to control them,” he stated.
He cautioned that if the situation remains unresolved, it could rapidly develop into a significant disaster.
“We fear that if prompt action is not taken, it could result in severe environmental consequences. The community is interlinked with its environment—when one is compromised, the other's survival is threatened,” he added, appealing to the relevant authorities to assist in finding a permanent solution to the issue.
In response, Bello Augustin, the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of NOSDRA, reassured the community that their concerns would be communicated to the appropriate authorities. He also praised the CSOs for their proactive advocacy and concern for community development within the state.
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