Fire from a leaking well head between Bukuma and Buguma in Asari Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
. EDEN raises alarm, appeals to govt for assistance
By Valentine Amanze
The Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) has appealed to to the Nigerian government to urgently stop the oil spill from a leaking well head and the resultant fire outbreak between Bukuma and Buguma in Asari Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
EDEN described the incident as an assault to the environment, which has been allowed to go on for too long.
In a statement issued by the EDEN Media Manager, Elvira Jordan, the call came after residents of the community appealed to EDEN management in the early hours of Monday of January 13, 2025, after a huge fire broke out of the well head, which had been spilling crude oil since early January, 2025.
“A resident of the community, who spoke to EDEN anonymously alleged that the fire started after an Airforce Helicopter was seen shooting to scare off oil bunkerers around the well head,” it stated.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of EDEN, Chima Williams, has berated the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and oil regulatory agencies for not taking the necessary measures to protect the environment and the people from such high level environmental disaster, insisting that it was gross negligence of human and environmental rights.
“It is unfortunate that for the people of the localities involved, the year 2025 started on a bad note with the disruption of the environment that sustains their livelihood.
“In an ideal society where ministries and agencies of government are up and doing, an oil spill is not supposed to last for that long, talk more of a fire outbreak that could destroy human, aquatic and wildlife in a very short period,” he said.
Also read: EDEN seeks speedy passage of gas flaring bill
Williams stressed that aside the environmental and ecological damage, the people of that area had been exposed to several chemicals that could be detrimental to their health, considering how delicate the riverine terrain is.
He called on the Rivers State Ministry of environment, NOSDRA and the other agencies to rise up to their responsibility of protecting the interest of the common people.
Williams further called on the military and security agencies to adopt more professional and environment-friendly ways of tackling oil theft and bunkering.
……………
For more interesting stories click: nigerianewsflight.com.ng
