Hope Rises for Iloma, Other Communities as Rivers Assembly Begins Probe of Oil Spill, Considers Governor Fubara’s Petition

The Rivers State House of Assembly on Tuesday considered a petition on the oil spill that has devastated Iloma and its adjoining communities, water bodies, farm lands, and living conditions of residents in Bonny Local Government Area of the State.

The petition, which was brought before the House by the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on behalf of the impacted and affected communities, was read on the floor of the Assembly by the Majority Leader, Goodboy Sokari, during plenary on Tuesday, December 10, 2024.

The oil spill, which occurred on Saturday, November 23, 2024 along a pipeline right of way at latitude 4.447338⁰ and longitude 7.192392⁰ on belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) at Iloma Community, quickly spread to other adjoining communities in Bonny LGA.

Within 24 hours, the spill borne by tidal movements had spread through the creeks and rivers to adjoining communities including Epelema, Orupiri, Ayaminima, Minima, Oloma, Oguede, Abalamabie, Sangama, Burukiri, Okpoma, Macaulay, and several other communities.

During the plenary presided over by the Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo, the State House of Assembly set in motion the process of ascertaining the circumstances surrounding the oil spill by referring the petition its Public Complaints Committee, which was mandated to engage with environmentalists and other relevant stakeholders on the matter.

It is expected that in the coming days, the Committee will call for inputs from the impacted and affected communities, embark on a fact-finding visit to the impacted communities and make recommendations to the House.

The Speaker directed the Committee to report its findings back to the House within 14 days from the date of its inauguration, noting that the petition against the NNPCL by the Governor highlighted the devastating damage the spill had caused the people of Bonny LGA.

He commended the State Governor for being sensitive to the plight of the people of Bonny LGA, stating that the State Assembly in pursuance of its oversight and legislative functions, will accord the petition the attention it needs, as disposition, close watchers of the situation, describe as “the hallmark of representation”.

They have expressed the hope that the outcome of the Assembly’s intervention will foster respite to the affected communities in Bonny LGA.

Curiously, almost 21 days after the oil spill, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Federal Government have kept mum over the matter.

So far, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, and the Presidency have yet to take any action on containment, clean-up or compensation over the spill.