The Youth President of Ogale community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, Comrade Noble Nwolu, has called on the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to immediately shut down operations in the area and replace damaged and worn-out pipelines, following yet another oil spill in the community.
The latest spill, which occurred on April 14, 2025, was reportedly caused by corrosion, leading to an explosion along the SPDC pipeline right-of-way.
According to Nwolu, this marks a recurring issue in the community, as similar incidents have occurred multiple times in recent years.
Speaking in an interview with our correspondent, Comrade Nwolu decried the continued use of old and dilapidated pipelines by SPDC.
“On April 14, 2025, we witnessed another spill in our community at the same location where an explosion occurred earlier this year. These pipelines are very old, and although SPDC started digging to replace them over two years ago, the project was abandoned midway,” he stated.
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He urged SPDC to shut down its operations in Ogale and resume the replacement process immediately to prevent further environmental degradation.
The youth leader lamented the impact of the spill on the environment, noting that the crude oil has flowed into nearby rivers and farmlands, destroying crops such as cassava and threatening the livelihoods of farmers in the area.
“The spillage has flowed into the river and across several farmlands, damaging cassava and other crops. It has a very devastating effect on our environment and means of livelihood,” he added.
Nwolu also called on relevant authorities to take urgent and drastic measures to prevent further spillage. He demanded a thorough clean-up of the affected areas and adequate compensation for those whose crops and farmlands were destroyed.
Meanwhile, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, Executive Director of the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), expressed concern over the recurring spills caused by equipment failure. He urged the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to carry out a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to the affected site.
Dr. Fyneface also called on NOSDRA to invoke the relevant sections of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, to hold those responsible accountable and ensure justice for the affected communities.
