Nigeria reps condemn NUPRC, NOSDRA inaction on prolonged gas leak

Lawmakers in Nigeria's House of Representatives have strongly criticized the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) for their inadequate response to a persistent gas leak in Billy Community, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State. The committee described the situation as a severe environmental and public health emergency that has persisted for approximately eight months.

During an investigative hearing in Abuja, committee members questioned officials from both agencies regarding regulatory failures and delays in intervention. Reports indicate that the continuous gas seepage has led to the contamination of water sources, air pollution, disruption of economic activities, and significant health risks for residents. The probe was initiated due to mounting concerns over the incident, which was first reported in late 2025 and has continued unabated.

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The committee considered it necessary to invite all relevant stakeholders because of the grave environmental, public health, socio-economic and ecological implications of the incident for the people of Billy Community and the wider South-South region.

Residents of the riverine community have voiced alarm, stating that the emissions have rendered their boreholes unusable, crippled their primary livelihoods of fishing and farming, and left families living in constant fear of potential fire outbreaks and other health hazards. The committee also expressed disappointment over the absence of key stakeholders, including representatives from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC Exploration and Production Limited, the Rivers State Government, and relevant state ministries.

Committee Chairman Julius Pondi emphasized that the investigation, conducted under the House's constitutional oversight powers, aims to establish the facts surrounding the incident, evaluate the response of regulatory bodies and industry operators, and determine the full extent of the environmental, health, and socio-economic consequences. Pondi highlighted the community's reliance on natural resource-based livelihoods and stressed the duty of lawmakers to ensure oil and gas industry operators adhere to regulations and protect host communities from avoidable hazards.

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As representatives of the Nigerian people, we have a duty to ensure that operators in the oil and gas industry conduct their activities in accordance with extant laws, government regulations and international best practices, while ensuring that host communities are adequately protected from avoidable environmental and safety hazards.