The rise in the number of gas bubbles has been an issue of serious concern to Civil Society Organizations in Bille Community, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State. This has called for urgent action by government authorities.
According to the CSOs, the emerging danger has put the lives of many people under severe threats. The victims reported that since last year, strange bubbles had started coming up around the water sources, along with strange gases emanating from the wells and cracks in some areas of the communities due to gas bubbles below.
At the recently held town hall meeting known as People’s Assembly Parliament, Isaac Osuoka, an executive director of Social Action, blamed the federal government and regulators for ignoring the looming crisis.
Osuoka further indicated that the water in Bille had been severely contaminated, thereby eliminating all forms of marine life and ruining the economic stability of fishermen.
“This hydrocarbons spillage became evident in 2025, and for more than six months now, the inhabitants of Bille have been forced to endure without receiving any kind of response from the government,” Osuoka stated.
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Eastern zone, supported his claims by saying that there had been negligence shown towards the matter. They warned that the issue was becoming a looming danger both health-wise and environmentally.
Annkio Briggs, an environmental activist, said that the matter was becoming serious and could be solved only if the government acted immediately.
There were also frustrations from community leaders. According to Chief Napoleon Hezekiah who represents the paramount ruler of Bille Kingdom, the air, water, and environmental pollution levels have increased beyond healthy limits.
There were calls for the government to do something before it becomes even worse.
Adding to the concern was the statement by Centre for Gender Equity and Sustainable Development which reported that the polluted water sources had led to diseases including diarrhea, skin infection, and others in children.
“This is a right that every child should enjoy. Without it, their lives are jeopardized,” they added.
As fears grew stronger and living situations became more difficult, there are now calls for the federal government to proclaim a state of emergency in Bille to address the problem.
