Reps demand urgent action over Bille gas seepage, Odidi oil spill

The House of Representatives Committee on the South-South Development Commission has urgently called for action to resolve a prolonged gas seepage in Bille Community, Rivers State, and an oil spill impacting Odidi Federated Community in Delta State. Committee Chairman Hon. Julius Pondi stated on Thursday during a stakeholders' engagement and legislative hearing that these incidents have subjected residents of the two oil-producing communities to severe environmental and economic challenges.

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The implications are serious. Beyond the potential risks to health, safety and the environment, the incident has imposed severe economic hardship on the people of Bille

Pondi emphasized that the affected communities deserve concrete interventions, not just extended investigations. The committee's concern over the Bille incident grew after learning from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) that the gas seepage had persisted for approximately nine months. "The implications are serious. Beyond the potential risks to health, safety and the environment, the incident has imposed severe economic hardship on the people of Bille," Pondi said.

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It is unacceptable for an incident of this magnitude to persist for so long without a clear, time-bound and effective resolution strategy

He noted that Bille, a community primarily reliant on fishing, has experienced disruptions to livelihoods, food security, household incomes, and education due to the seepage. "It is unacceptable for an incident of this magnitude to persist for so long without a clear, time-bound and effective resolution strategy," Pondi declared. The stakeholders' meeting aimed to establish facts, assess interventions, identify obstacles, and agree on practical, time-bound measures.

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Most importantly, we want to move from prolonged discussion to concrete action and lasting resolution

The committee expects detailed briefings from operating companies, NUPRC, NOSDRA, and other relevant agencies regarding the cause, extent, and current status of the seepage. Representatives from Bille Community are also set to present their concerns and outline required relief and interventions. "Most importantly, we want to move from prolonged discussion to concrete action and lasting resolution," Pondi stated. Regarding the Odidi oil spill, a legislative hearing will determine the spill's timeline, cause, containment efforts, environmental damage, remediation status, and reasons for its persistence. Pondi described these situations as representative of broader environmental and developmental challenges in the South-South region, where host communities bear a disproportionate burden of environmental consequences despite their significant contribution to Nigeria's oil and gas economy.

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Our approach will be fair, objective and evidence-based. We are not here to prejudge any party, but to establish the facts, promote accountability and facilitate solutions