The Director General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, along with a specialized team of NOSDRA personnel and collaborative stakeholders, on Friday conducted a comprehensive site assessment in Zion City, Agum, a community in the Bukuma Island of Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.

This initiative aims to evaluate the ramifications of a recent hydrocarbon spill and formulate an effective response strategy to mitigate the environmental impact.

The incident, reported on January 1, 2025, involved a gas leak from the NNPC OML Well 8, operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL). Following the incident report, NOSDRA, as the principal agency overseeing oil spill incidents in Nigeria, convened a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to the site on January 6, 2025. The JIV aimed to ascertain the causal factors surrounding the incident and recommend necessary regulatory compliance measures to mitigate its impact. The investigation team included key stakeholders such as NNPCL, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, and community representatives.

During the investigation, the team identified several environmental concerns, including illegal hoses connected to the well-head, gas emissions, and signs of stress in the mangrove vegetation in the immediate vicinity. The team directed NNPCL to undertake immediate actions, including the repair of the affected well-head and the implementation of continuous surveillance of operational areas to prevent future incidents.

On Friday, January 17, Engr. Woke led a team of NOSDRA specialists along the New Calabar River to further evaluate the extent of the spill and engage with community members. They consulted personnel from TANTITA Security Services, responsible for safeguarding the oil infrastructure, who provided insights into the incident's onset prior to the subsequent fire outbreak. Mr. Eugene from TANTITA indicated that the spill was likely instigated by the actions of suspected pipeline vandals attempting to illegally tap into the well-head.

Following the JIV, NNPCL mobilized contractors for well intervention and oil spill recovery operations at the incident location. However, on January 12, NOSDRA received reports of a fire outbreak at the well-head, attributed to excessive gas release. The agency is actively coordinating with relevant stakeholders and the operator to extinguish the fire and mitigate its effects on the community by facilitating the provision of relief materials.

Engr. Woke emphasized NOSDRA's commitment to thoroughly analyzing the collected data and collaborating with pertinent agencies to bring the situation under control. The agency is dedicated to ensuring the welfare of the affected communities and will work with relevant stakeholders to provide necessary relief.

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