By Tina Amanda
Residents of Andoni Local Government Area in Rivers State are raising alarm over a massive oil spill that has devastated their shoreline since December 13, 2024.
Sources from the community attribute the spill to a suspected leak from a Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) facility in Bonny Island. The oil has spread across the Oyorokoto, Agbama, and Imo River waterways, severely impacting communities along the river.
Reuters reports suggest the spill might have originated from a ruptured pipeline at Shell’s Bonny loading terminal. The spill has already spread over 40 kilometers from the suspected source, with fears it could extend further due to tidal movements.
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in the area. A similar spill on Shell’s Trans Niger Pipeline III on May 11, 2024, in Asarama community, Andoni LGA, caused extensive environmental damage and disrupted livelihoods. Fishermen lost their equipment, and waterways were heavily polluted.
During a visit to the affected areas, representatives from the Andoni Host and Impacted Communities Bureau and the National Youth Council of Nigeria described the magnitude of the disaster. They highlighted the destruction of fishing nets, boats, and other equipment, leaving fishermen unable to work.
Mangroves, fish habitats, and other marine ecosystems have also been severely damaged.
The impacted communities are demanding immediate containment of the spill, cleanup efforts, and adequate compensation. Nnimmo Bassey, Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), emphasized that aging pipelines and equipment failures are frequent culprits of oil spills in the Niger Delta.
He lamented the lack of accountability and action by oil companies, leaving communities to bear the brunt of the destruction.
Environmental groups and stakeholders are urging government agencies to investigate and hold polluting companies accountable to ensure justice for affected communities.
