Bille Gas Leak: Stakeholders Demand Emergency Declaration, Threaten Oil Facility Shutdown

Bille Gas Leak: Stakeholders Demand Emergency Declaration, Threaten Oil Facility Shutdown

Stakeholders urge emergency action over Bille gas leak, warning of oil installation shutdown if government delays response.

Civil Society Organisations, environmentalists and other stakeholders in Bille Community, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, have called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency in the area following a persistent gas leak that they said poses grave health, environmental and safety risks to residents.

The demand was made when Social Action in collaboration with Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, Chikoko Movement, Civil Rights Action, MiiDeekor, Health of Mother Earth, HOMEF, the IYC Eastern Zone, and others toured several spots in Bille where gas was seen bubbling from the ground, water, and residential wells.

Residents reportedly first observed signs of the gas leak last year when bubbles began appearing on surrounding water bodies, while fumes emerged from water wells and cracks developed in parts of the community. Investigations later indicated that underground gas was escaping to the surface.

Residents and activists during the tour displayed placards with inscriptions such as “Bille is on Fire,” “The gas bubbles are not decorations, they are poison,” “No fishing, No farming, no livelihood,” and “FG, NOSDRA, get the oil companies to stop the gas pollution,” among others.

Speaking at the People’s Assembly Parliament held at the area, the Convener and Executive Director of Social Action, Isaac Osuoka, accused the Federal Government and its regulatory agencies of abandoning the community despite the severity of the situation.

“Today, we see how delay creates emergency. All over this town, even as you approach from the water, you begin to see gas bubbling everywhere. We see gas eruption everywhere. We see hydrocarbon eruption everywhere,” Osuoka said.

He stated that all groundwater in Bille has been “totally and completely polluted,” destroying fish, aquatic life, and the traditional livelihoods of residents.

“We are here today because of the failure of the Nigerian state. This hydrocarbon eruption started in 2025. For over six months ago, the people of Bille have been going through this, and the Nigerian state has failed to respond,” he said.

Osuoka faulted President Bola Tinubu, who also serves as Minister of Petroleum, for failing to protect the Niger Delta.

“The President has failed. The Federal government has failed. President Tinubu appointed himself Petroleum Minister with the responsibility to protect the interests of Nigeria and Nigerians, including the lands. But Bille Kingdom is not protected.”

He specifically named the Nigerian Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), and its Director-General, Emeka Woke, for inaction. “NOSDRA came here to do tests. They did air tests, water tests, soil tests, and they have lied that the air quality in Bille is safe.”

Osuoka also criticised the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), chaired by Senator Magnus Abe saying, “Up till now, NUPRC has not done anything. They have done nothing to respond to the emergency in Bille. There is a health crisis in Bille. People are at risk of death. This community can burn down any day, but NUPRC has not responded.”

He added that the Federal Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water Resources, and emergency agencies “have done nothing in Bille,” describing the situation as an outrage.

While commending Governor Siminalayi Fubara for donating 100 million naira through his representative for a medical outreach, Osuoka said the intervention was inadequate.

“I commend Governor Fubara for his intervention, but he has not demonstrated adequate responsibility over the matters of Bille and the Niger Delta. This community, the people of Bille are citizens of Rivers State, they are citizens of Nigeria, they are sick and there is an emergency situation here that deserves more than just that response.”

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Chairman, Eastern Zone, Datolu Sukubo, said the Federal Government has failed to intervene on the Bille gas leaks since October last year and accused NNPCL and oil companies of avoiding responsibility.

“We clearly understand that the oil companies are trying to absolve themselves because they feel there is no equipment failure, or no direct gas or crude oil leakage, that is why they are reluctant,” Sukubo said.

He threatened direct action if the government fails to act. “If the people right now say they want to shut down OML 24, and by extension OML 18 operations, the NNPC will immediately react because they know they are going to lose a lot of revenue in just one day. But they have not reacted to this situation since October last year.

“If the government doesn’t declare a state of emergency on this Bille situation, they should prepare to bring all their armies to come and shoot us at the platforms,” he warned.

Also speaking, prominent Niger Delta environmental activist, Ms. Annkio Briggs, said the scale of the crisis had gone beyond temporary interventions and required decisive action from the federal government.

“I am alarmed by what I saw. I am angry and deeply concerned. The President, who is also the Minister of Petroleum, should personally ensure that this matter receives urgent attention,” she said.

The King of Bille Kingdom, His Majesty Igbikingeri Herbert, who spoke through Alabo Napoleon Hezekiah, Secretary, Land Health and Environment Committee, Bille Council of Chiefs, thanked the CSOs and IYC for their concerns and demanded immediate federal action.

“The environment is highly polluted, the air quality is bad, the water quality is bad, all parameters are above permissible level. I’m saying the President and Federal Government should act now and not sleep on the situation in Bille Kingdom.”

On long-term solutions, he rejected the call for evacuation of the people and urged the government to “build gas plants here in Bille and commingle the gas into a gas plant to generate energy. The people will also be gainfully engaged and our youths will have jobs,” he said.