Fresh Oil Spill Hits Ogoni, Threatens Cleanup and Resumption Plans
A fresh oil spill has struck Kpean Community in Ogoniland, Rivers State, threatening ongoing environmental remediation efforts and sparking renewed concerns over proposed oil production in the region.
Spill Originates from Abandoned Shell Well
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) confirmed the incident via its Crude Oil Spill Alert System (COSAS) and One Million Youth Volunteers Network. The spill reportedly came from a wellhead in Oil Mining Lease 11 (OML11), abandoned by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) since 1993.
Local accounts conflict over the exact source—some say Oil Well 2, others say Oil Well 4—both part of the dormant 16-well cluster Shell left after being expelled by the Ogoni people.
“Major Environmental Setback”
Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, described the spill as a serious blow to the clean-up efforts being managed by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).
“This recent spill complicates ongoing clean-up efforts by HYPREP,” he stated. “It also raises critical questions about the federal government’s plan to resume oil production in Ogoni.”
Warning Signs Ignored
Youth volunteers reported that pressure noises were heard from the wellhead days before the spill, hinting at possible equipment failure. SPDC had reportedly sealed—or “killed”—these wells back in 2011.
“This suggests that crude oil was struggling to emerge from the sealed wellhead,” YEAC said in a statement.
Calls for Immediate Investigation
YEAC has urged the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to assess the source, volume, and environmental impact.
“We urge NOSDRA to swiftly intervene and conduct a transparent JIV on the spill site. The people of Ogoni cannot afford another environmental disaster,” Fyneface emphasised.
Clean-Up at Risk, Resumption Plans Questioned
The spill has reignited debate over the region’s readiness for renewed oil activity, especially as HYPREP continues to struggle with legacy pollution from decades past. The UNEP had, in its 2011 report, called for urgent remediation work in Ogoniland.
With tensions rising, the incident may fuel further resistance from communities and civil society groups against oil resumption in the area.
