Ten oil spills reported in Niger Delta in July

At least 10 oil spill incidents happened in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Imo states in July. This is from a review by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA).

The spills involved major oil companies like Renaissance Africa Energy Company, Heirs Energies, Seplat Energy, Oando, and Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO). The main causes included sabotage, corrosion, operational failures, and equipment defects.

Rivers State had the highest number of reported spills for the month. The pipeline infrastructure was the most affected facility.

These spills occurred even though the federal government spends billions of naira each year on pipeline surveillance and protection contracts to reduce crude oil theft, vandalism, and environmental pollution.

PREMIUM TIMES has reported that despite increased spending on pipeline protection, oil-producing communities still face repeated spills. Clean-up and remediation efforts often fall behind.

Environmental experts and civil society groups have also expressed concerns. They say more focus should be on preventing oil spills through better pipeline maintenance and enforcement of regulations, rather than just relying on surveillance contracts.

Rivers records most spills

NOSDRA data shows that Renaissance Africa Energy Company had four separate spill incidents in July.

The largest spill happened on 16 July in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State. It released 25 barrels of crude oil, about 3,980 litres, from a pipeline due to operational and maintenance errors. This spill harmed swamp vegetation, surface water, and fishing nets both within and outside the company’s right of way.

NOSDRA ordered the company to fix the damaged pipeline, recover the spilled crude oil, and clean up under the agency’s supervision.

On the same day, another spill from Renaissance occurred in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State. This spill involved 0.1 barrels, about 16 litres, of crude oil due to sabotage and oil theft, affecting local vegetation.

The company also reported a four-barrel spill on 8 July at Elele Alimini in Emohua West Local Government Area of Rivers State. According to the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) report, this spill was also due to sabotage and theft, impacting vegetation including palm trees near the pipeline.

A fourth incident from Renaissance was reported on 4 July in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers. Initially, it seemed like a spill on land. However, after checking, the JIV found no leak on the pipeline.

Corrosion and sabotage continue

The review also pointed out that corrosion is a common cause of spills.

On 27 July, SEEPCO had a spill of 10 barrels, or about 1,590 litres, of crude oil in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State. This spill was reportedly caused by corrosion and was contained two days later.

Similarly, Oando noted a one-barrel spill due to pipeline corrosion on 5 July in Okoroma, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Earlier, on 3 July, Oando reported another incident involving nine barrels of condensate in Otua community, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers. Investigators found a 0.5-millimetre drill hole on the flowline, showing it was sabotage.

Operational failures also a factor

Operational and equipment failures added to the pollution this month.

Aiteo Exploration and Production Company had a spill of 17 barrels, about 2,700 litres, on 13 July at its Central Processing Facility linked to the Nembe Crude Oil Export Terminal in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. NOSDRA said the incident was due to an overflow in the facility’s storage system.

On 11 July, Seplat Energy experienced a spill of 0.5 barrels, about 80 litres, in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State due to equipment failure. This spill affected seasonal swamp surface water. NOSDRA advised that repairs be made to the equipment and that oil sheen be removed from the affected water body.

Heirs Energies spill linked to sabotage

On 28 July, Heirs Energies reported a spill from the Nkale Well 13 Flowline in Odogwa I, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers. NOSDRA assigned the incident number IN-0855 and estimated the volume at 0.0126 barrels, about two litres of crude oil. The spill stopped on 31 July, and the JIV said it was due to sabotage.

Environmental issues persist

The spills in July add to the long list of oil spills happening each year in the Niger Delta. These spills have harmed farmlands, rivers, wetlands, and fishing communities.

PREMIUM TIMES has documented how delays in clean-up, ageing infrastructure, weak enforcement of regulations, and ongoing pipeline vandalism keep harming efforts to reduce pollution in the region.

The newspaper has also reported calls from environmental groups for oil companies and regulators to prioritize pipeline replacement, better maintenance, faster clean-up, and stricter accountability. This is to reduce the number of spills and protect the livelihoods of oil-producing communities.