Oil Spills From Oando Facility Hit Rivers Community as Pipeline Continues to Ooze Crude
Fresh oil spills from an Oando-operated pipeline have impacted Akinima community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, reigniting environmental concerns in the Niger Delta and prompting renewed calls for urgent regulatory intervention.
The incident, which reportedly occurred on Monday, was detected by youth volunteers working under the Crude Oil Spill Alert System operated by the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, YEAC-Nigeria. According to the group, crude oil was still actively leaking from the pipeline at the time of reporting, as the affected section had not yet been clamped.
The leaking facility was previously operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited, a subsidiary of Italy’s Eni. The asset became part of Oando Plc’s portfolio following its acquisition of NAOC’s Nigerian assets in 2023 in a deal valued at 783 million dollars.
YEAC-Nigeria disclosed that the spill involves two leaking points on a 6-inch pipeline belonging to Oando. The organisation described the situation as distressing, noting that the continuous flow of crude oil poses serious risks to the environment and the livelihoods of residents in the host community.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, the group said it received an alert from youths in Akinima who observed the fresh spillage through the community-based monitoring system.
The organisation described the development as another painful reminder of the persistent oil pollution challenges facing the Niger Delta. It warned that the ongoing discharge of crude oil threatens farmlands, water bodies, and public health in communities that depend heavily on these resources for survival.
YEAC-Nigeria condemned the spill and stressed the need for immediate action by both the facility operator and relevant regulators to prevent further environmental damage. The group specifically called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency and Oando to urgently contain the spill and protect the surrounding ecosystem.
The advocacy group also demanded that Oando and regulatory authorities conduct an immediate joint investigation visit to the spill site. According to YEAC-Nigeria, the pipeline should be clamped without delay to halt further discharge, while the root cause of the incident should be thoroughly investigated in line with the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021.
The group further urged authorities to apply appropriate sanctions where necessary and to enforce stronger preventive measures to reduce the frequency of oil spills in the region.
YEAC-Nigeria said it would continue to closely monitor the situation and advocate for the rights of the affected community, adding that if investigations confirm third-party interference, those responsible should be held accountable under the law.
