Environmental Damage: Hold Oil Operators Accountable, Natasha Tells Senate

The Senator representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has moved a prayer urging the Ecological Project Management Committee and other relevant agencies to take decisive action against oil operators responsible for environmental damage.

A motion titled, “Urgent need to mitigate the recent fire outbreak and oil spillage from Manifold Well 8/ Bug 008 in OML 18 Bukuma (Agum), Rivers West Senatorial District, Rivers”, was sponsored by Sen Banigo Ipalibo Harry (Rivers West).

In her contribution, Sen Akpoti-Uduaghan urged the Ecological Project Management Committee (EPMC) and other relevant agencies to ascertain the cleanup costs, charges, and penalties for each oil spill and oil fire hazard and to charge the operators accordingly.

This move aims to promote transparency and accountability in the oil industry and protect the environment from the harmful effects of oil spills and fires.

It is recalled that incidents of oil spills and fire outbreaks in the Niger Delta region are recurrent and often result from lapses in safety protocols, sabotage, or inadequate enforcement of environmental laws and other regulatory frameworks governing oil exploitation activities.

Concerned by the delayed response of responsible oil companies and regulatory bodies, the Senate urged the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to investigate the cause of the fire outbreak and oil spill from the affected area with immediate effect.

The oil spill and subsequent fire that emanated from the leak that overwhelmed Bukuma Island, Degema local government area of Rivers, came from NNPC OML Well 8, operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).

Although there was initial confusion about where the leaks originated, an investigation by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) determined that the spill came from OML 8. The leak was reported on January 1, 2025.