Environmental rights organisations in Rivers State, the Pilex Centre for Civic Education Initiative (PCCEI) and Lekeh Development Foundation (LDF), have petitioned the Federal Government over the persistent gas leak and environmental pollution in Bille Community, Degema Local Government Area, calling for immediate remediation and greater accountability.
The groups staged a peaceful rally through major streets of Port Harcourt, carrying placards demanding urgent government intervention before submitting a position paper to the Federal Government through Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, at Government House.
Presenting the petition, Coordinator of PCCEI, Courage Nsirimovu, urged the Federal Government to conduct a comprehensive environmental assessment of Bille Community and commence immediate remediation of polluted sites.
Nsirimovu expressed concern over the delay in releasing the findings of an environmental assessment reportedly conducted months ago by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) on the gas seepage in the community.
He also called for transparency in the management of funds earmarked for environmental remediation across the Niger Delta, urging the government to ensure such resources are deployed for their intended purpose.
The environmental advocate further accused some multinational oil companies of abandoning host communities and divesting from operations without cleaning up polluted environments.
According to the petition, recurring oil spills, gas leaks and decades of environmental degradation have devastated Bille Community, destroying mangrove forests, contaminating rivers and drinking water sources, damaging farmlands and aquatic ecosystems, and causing severe health challenges linked to hydrocarbon pollution.
The groups said the environmental crisis has also resulted in the loss of livelihoods for thousands of fishermen, women and youths, increased poverty, food insecurity and social unrest.
They argued that despite the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which established mechanisms for environmental protection and remediation, polluted communities across the Niger Delta have yet to witness meaningful clean-up efforts.
Among their demands are an immediate environmental assessment of Bille Community, large-scale clean-up of polluted sites across the Niger Delta, publication of reports on the Environmental Remediation Fund, establishment of an independent environmental monitoring committee, stricter enforcement against polluting oil companies, restoration of damaged ecosystems and adequate compensation for affected communities.
Receiving the petition on behalf of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Information, Honour Sirawoo, assured the groups that the state government remains committed to protecting the lives and wellbeing of residents.
He said the concerns raised over the situation in Bille Community would receive the attention of the state government.
Also speaking, Director of Lekeh Development Foundation, Friday Nbani, lamented the impact of decades of pollution on communities across the Niger Delta, describing the region as an environmental disaster zone.
Nbani said pollution has contributed to declining life expectancy, the disappearance of wildlife, contamination of food and water sources, and the destruction of traditional means of livelihood.
He maintained that financial interventions alone would not address the crisis, insisting that the priority should be the comprehensive clean-up of polluted communities.
The environmental activist called on the Federal Government to implement a holistic environmental restoration programme across the Niger Delta, beginning with Bille Community, to safeguard public health, restore livelihoods and ensure environmental justice for affected residents.
