Fresh Oil Spill Hits OML29 in Bayelsa, Pollutes Santa Barbara River
By Naija Enquirer Staff
Tension has gripped coastal communities in Nembe, Bayelsa State, following a fresh oil spill from an 8-inch crude delivery pipeline operated by Nembe Exploration and Production Company Limited (NEPCo) — formerly Aiteo Eastern E&P Company Ltd. — at Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29. The incident has reportedly discharged large volumes of crude oil into the Santa Barbara River and surrounding communities, sparking fears of another environmental disaster.
The spill, which occurred on October 1, 2025, has yet to be fully quantified. However, residents report widespread contamination of creeks, mangroves, and farmlands in the Tora axis of Nembe, with visible crude slicks spreading along the waterways and floating dead fish spotted in affected areas.
Communities Demand Transparency and Accountability
In a strongly worded letter to NEPCo, the Opu Nembe Kingdom, through its legal counsel, Mr. Iniruo Wills of Ntephe, Smith & Wills, condemned what it described as “recurring pollution and weak response mechanisms” by oil operators in the region.
“Our clients demand a thorough and competent investigation of this spill, and adequate management, including swift post-spill assessment and remediation,” Wills stated.
He further called for a high-level engagement between the company, the community’s technical team, and relevant regulators to establish a sustainable framework that would “end this unbearable and continual burden.”
Community Rejects Company’s Joint Investigation Plan
In a letter referenced NEPCo/HSE-JIV/2025/04 dated October 5, NEPCo confirmed the spill and proposed a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) for October 6, in accordance with regulatory protocols to determine the cause and volume of the leak.
However, the Nembe communities rejected the proposed date, insisting on proper notice and inclusion of credible independent observers to ensure transparency and integrity of the investigation process.
“The community requires and deserves decent notice to assemble a competent JIV team, some of whom usually come from Lagos, Port Harcourt, or Yenagoa,” the community’s letter read. “This is to ensure due diligence and to avoid the perennial practice of manipulating the JIV process and suppressing critical information.”
The communities have since proposed a new date for the exercise and called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and environmental advocacy groups to participate.
Environmental Concerns Over Recurring Spills
Environmental advocates have raised alarm over the frequency of oil spills in OML29, one of Nigeria’s largest onshore oil assets, linking the problem to aging infrastructure, inadequate oversight, and regulatory lapses within the oil and gas sector.
They warned that unless decisive measures are taken to upgrade infrastructure and enforce strict compliance with environmental standards, the Niger Delta will continue to suffer recurring ecological disasters.
As of press time, NEPCo has yet to issue an official statement regarding the extent of the spill or the containment measures initiated. Cleanup efforts are expected to begin following the completion of the Joint Investigation Visit.
Calls for Action and Remediation
For many in Nembe, this latest spill serves as a painful reminder of what they describe as a “cycle of pollution without accountability.” Community leaders and residents have urged regulators to ensure a transparent and independent investigation, with tangible remediation efforts to restore their environment and livelihoods.
As the community braces for the aftermath, attention now turns to whether NEPCo and government agencies will deliver a credible response to prevent yet another environmental tragedy in the Niger Delta.
