An oil spill occurred in the Ikata community, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Monday, May 5, 2025.
The spill reportedly originated from a 14-inch pipeline along the Okordia-Rumuekpe right of way operated by Renaissance Africa Energy Company Ltd (RAEC), the new owner of assets formerly held by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) following a $2.4 billion divestment deal.
The incident was made known by the Executive Director, Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), Dr. Dumnamene Fyneface, in Port Harcourt.
According Fyneface, members of YEAC’s “One Million Youth Volunteers Network of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters in the Niger Delta” as well as its Crude Oil Spill Alert System (COSAS) were the first to report the spill.
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Dr. Fyneface disclosed that preliminary investigations by YEAC volunteers revealed that the spill may have resulted from third-party interference. “Vandals allegedly excavated the area and tampered with the 14-inch pipeline, causing it to rupture and spew crude oil across the environment,” he said.
The environmental group noted that the spill is already causing significant damage to the surrounding ecosystem. Volunteers at the site documented the extent of the spill in photos and videos shared with the organisation.
YEAC-Nigeria called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to ascertain the exact cause of the incident and determine accountability.
The group also urged authorities to invoke relevant sections of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 to prosecute those responsible.
