A coalition of civil society organisations under The People’s Assembly has urged President Bola Tinubu to declare an immediate national environmental and public health emergency in the Bille community, located within the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State. This urgent appeal follows persistent gas eruptions across the locality that have been allegedly linked to 11 deaths and widespread hardship.
Speaking at a press briefing in Port Harcourt, Dr Emem Okon, Executive Director of the Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre and co- convener of the assembly, described the situation as a rapidly unfolding humanitarian crisis requiring swift federal intervention. The coalition is pressing for the urgent relocation of affected residents, comprehensive emergency medical care, and the release of dedicated funds to locate and seal the source of the gas. For roughly a year, volatile gases have bubbled continuously from residential compounds, school grounds, creeks, hand-dug wells, and boreholes, severely compromising air quality and endangering human lives.
What are the core demands of the coalition?
Alongside the declaration of an emergency, the group has issued an open letter to federal authorities outlining several critical demands. These include the immediate publication of preliminary soil and water test findings, the deployment of advanced fingerprinting technology to trace the origin of the gas, and the activation of a regional Spill Command Centre alongside access to the Upstream Remediation Fund.
Furthermore, the coalition has called for a comprehensive audit of all active, idle, and abandoned petroleum assets within Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 18 and 24, alongside a temporary suspension of oil and gas activities in the directly affected zones. Dr Prince Edegbuo of Social Action stressed that the government must transition from endless investigations to practical safeguarding measures, such as providing safe temporary shelters, clean drinking water, food supplies, and proper healthcare.
How did the crisis unfold?
According to independent monitors and community reports, the gas phenomenon began around October 2025, triggering recurrent fires and explosions while exposing residents to dangerous concentrations of methane, hydrogen sulphide, and carbon dioxide. The environmental degradation has effectively crippled fishing and local commerce, exacerbating poverty levels amidst rising living costs.
Although agencies like the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission have conducted joint investigation visits, the exact source of the leak remains undetermined, reportedly constrained by inadequate funding for thorough technical assessments. Meanwhile, Kentebe Ebiaridor of Oilwatch International has demanded strict sector accountability, insisting that past and present operators of OMLs 18 and 24 be held jointly liable and that affected families receive adequate compensation.
In tandem with these appeals, the coalition announced the rollout of a 'No Clean-Up, No Vote' initiative across the Niger Delta region. The campaign aims to rally voters to withhold support from political actors who fail to offer credible, time-bound strategies for environmental remediation and public health protection ahead of future electoral cycles.