The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) has confirmed a fresh crude oil spill in the Oshika community, located in Ahoada West Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State.
The spill, reported in the early hours of Monday, occurred along a pipeline right of way operated by Renaissance Africa Energy Company Ltd — the new operator of Shell Petroleum Development Company’s (SPDC) divested facilities.
According to a statement shared by the Advocacy Centre Facebook page, the crude oil spill was first detected by its youth volunteer network under the One Million Youth Volunteers Network of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters in the Niger Delta.
The incident was promptly reported to YEAC-Nigeria’s Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, through the centre’s Crude Oil Spill Alert System (COSAS).
Preliminary reports suggest the spill may have been caused by third-party interference, although an official cause is yet to be determined pending confirmation by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA).
Read Also: Rural Dwellers Score Ibas High on Electricity
A joint investigation by NOSDRA and relevant stakeholders is expected to provide further clarity.
Dr. Fyneface called on NOSDRA to urgently conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to the affected site and invoke relevant sections of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 to hold those responsible accountable.
He also urged the operator, Renaissance Africa Energy Company Ltd, to promptly clamp the spill point to contain the environmental impact.
The Advocacy Centre emphasized the importance of a swift response to prevent further degradation of the environment and to reinforce accountability in the oil and gas sector under the new legal framework provided by the PIA.
As of the time of this report, there has been no official statement from Renaissance Africa Energy Company Ltd or NOSDRA regarding the incident.
YEAC-Nigeria continues to monitor the situation through its volunteer network and has pledged to provide updates as more information becomes available.
