Reps Summon NNPC 18 Operating Ltd Over Rivers Environmental Pollution

The House of Representatives Committee on Environment has invited NNPC Eighteen Operating Limited to appear unfailingly on March 4 to respond to allegations of environmental degradation in Rivers State levelled against the organisation.

The committee’s chairman, Hon . Julius Pondi, extended the invitation after the company failed to honour an earlier invitation on February 18, 2025.

He said the summon was in response to a petition from stakeholders regarding environmental degradation and pollution caused by oil drilling activities in the Buguma and Degema areas of Rivers State.

The committee had received a formal complaint against NNPC 18 Operating Ltd over a fire and oil spill incident in Buguma, Degema Local Government Area.

The lawmakers also invited relevant stakeholders and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to deliberate on grievances raised by the Bukuma community in Rivers.

The community had accused NNPC of failing to implement a 2021 court judgment mandating the clustering of oil-producing communities for development purposes.

The committee is expected to hear from all parties involved and take necessary steps to address the environmental concerns and alleged neglect of affected communities.