By Fatima Saka
The Senate has launched an investigation into the recent oil spill and fire outbreak at Manifold Well 8/BUG 008 in Rivers State, directing its Committees on Environment and Petroleum Resources (Upstream) to assess compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act and other relevant laws. Lawmakers also called for appropriate sanctions against any operators found negligent.
In a resolution following a motion by Sen. Banigo Ipalibo Harry (Rivers West), the Senate urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to take immediate action in line with its corporate social responsibility and environmental safety commitments. It directed the company to deploy emergency response teams to assess the disaster’s impact and implement remediation measures for affected communities.
The Senate also mandated the National Oil Spillage Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to investigate the cause of the spill and fire, with a report due in four weeks.
Call for Swift Action
Presenting the motion, Sen. Banigo expressed deep concern over the environmental destruction, displacement of residents, and health risks posed by the spill. She noted that recurring oil spills and fire outbreaks in the Niger Delta were often linked to weak safety protocols, sabotage, or lax enforcement of environmental laws.
“The pollutants pose significant health risks, including respiratory diseases, waterborne infections, and long-term effects such as cancer and organ damage, worsening the region’s public health crisis,” she warned.
She also highlighted the contamination of rivers, farmlands, and aquatic life—critical sources of livelihood for communities in Buguma Asalga, Ifoko Asalga, and Bukuma (Agum) in Degema.
Lawmakers voiced concerns over delayed responses from oil companies and regulatory agencies, which they said exacerbated the suffering of affected communities and eroded public trust in environmental law enforcement.
To address the humanitarian crisis, the Senate called on the Ecological Project Management Committee (EPMC) to deploy intervention funds to affected victims. It also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief and tackle the ecological, health, and social consequences of the disaster.
Senators Reaction
Sen. Friday Benson Kombowei (Bayelsa Central) condemned the continued hardship faced by Niger Delta communities due to oil exploration. He pushed back against claims that sabotage by locals caused the fire and spill.
“You have pipelines running through people’s homes and business areas—what do you expect?” he asked. “People are already suffering. There are health issues now that we never had before.”
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Sen. Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), former chairman of the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission, called for a complete overhaul of oil infrastructure, including pipelines and flow stations.
“Failure to act means sacrificing many lives for the benefit of a few,” he warned.
Sen. Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) urged NOSDRA to impose heavy fines on operators responsible for environmental destruction, labeling their actions as “irresponsible.”
The Senate’s resolutions signal a renewed push for accountability and stronger regulatory enforcement in the wake of yet another environmental disaster in the Niger Delta.
