A massive oil spill has ravaged communities in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, leaving a trail of environmental destruction and livelihood disruption in its wake.
The spill, which occurred on December 13, 2024, is suspected to have emanated from an SPDC facility in Bonny Island, with reports suggesting that it may have resulted from a pipeline rupture at a Shell loading terminal in Bonny.
According to community sources, the spill has spread across the shoreline, impacting communities along the Oyorokoto/Agbama/Imo River.
The spill’s impact is already being felt over 40km from the incident site, with concerns that it may spread to other communities along the coastline due to wave action.
It was gathered that this is not the first time that communities in Andoni have been affected by an oil spill.
In May 2024, a similar spill occurred in Shell’s Trans Niger Pipeline line III, polluting and contaminating the environment, as well as fishing gear, and destroying the means of livelihood for many residents.
A visit to the affected areas by concerned stakeholders, including representatives from Andoni Host and Impacted Communities Bureau, the National Youth Council of Nigeria Andoni, amongst others, revealed the magnitude of the spill and its immediate impacts.
“The oil spill has damaged fishing nets, boats, and other equipment, rendering them unusable,” said a community leader.
“The contamination of the waterways has made it impossible for fishermen to engage in their daily livelihood,” he added.
The oil spill has also caused significant environmental damage, including the destruction of mangroves, fish habitats, and other marine life.
Residents are calling on the polluting company to quickly contain the spill, carry out cleanup and remediation, and provide adequate compensation to the impacted community people.
Nnimmo Bassey, Director of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), condemned the frequent oil spills in the Niger Delta, stating that they are a harsh reality for community folks in the region.
“Most of the pipelines that crisscross the Niger Delta are as old as when commercial export of crude oil started in Nigeria, and a lot of these spills are coming from these old pipelines and in some other cases, equipment failure,” he said.
Bassey called on relevant agencies to hold oil companies accountable for their actions, ensuring that justice is served.
“We all have a role in saving the environment,” he said. “See something, Say Something.”
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and concern among residents, who are demanding immediate action from the relevant authorities to address the situation.
