Nembe creek oil spill sparks outcry, communities demand justice
An oil spill from crude‑loading operations at the Nembe Creek oilfield in Bayelsa has polluted several fishing communities, prompting urgent calls for cleanup and compensation.
The incident occurred on 22 August when a barge loading crude oil from a manifold reportedly ruptured. The Nembe Creek oilfield, within Oil Mining Lease 29 (OML 29), is operated by Nembe Exploration & Production Limited, formerly Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Limited.
Nathan Tamarapreye. Yenagoa
An oil spill from crude‑loading operations at the Nembe Creek oilfield in Bayelsa has polluted several fishing communities, prompting urgent calls for cleanup and compensation.
The incident occurred on 22 August when a barge loading crude oil from a manifold reportedly ruptured. The Nembe Creek oilfield, within Oil Mining Lease 29 (OML 29), is operated by Nembe Exploration & Production Limited, formerly Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Limited.
Environmental Conservation Agriculture and Rural Development (ECARD), which visited the site on 24 August, reported crude oil along the creek and mangrove banks. Its Lead Field Monitor, Chief Alagoa Morris, said the pungent smell of crude was noticeable two kilometres from Nembe Creek.
Residents said the spill had destroyed fishing equipment and halted fishing activities. Paramount ruler HRH Agent Waya warned that the disaster had deepened hardship in the area. He said naval personnel were alerted after Aiteo officials allegedly failed to respond promptly, while women from affected communities staged protests demanding relief materials, damage assessment and compensation.
Communities including Mile 1, Mile 2, Mile 3, Roka, Williamkiri, Atonbarakiri, Korukiri, Madam Wanwakiri, Ewelesuo, Kpongbokiri, Victorkiri, Abuja 1–3, Pipeline 1–4, Kalakububogo and Etikiri were listed among those impacted.
Local leaders said fishing nets worth ₦150,000–₦170,000 had been ruined, while polluted waters were no longer usable for fishing or domestic purposes. ECARD warned that rising tides could carry crude deeper into mangroves, threatening aquatic life such as crabs, oysters and periwinkles.
Information from the Bayelsa Ministry of Environment and the Nembe Oil and Gas Committee indicated that operational failure caused the spill, though the volume and extent of damage remained unclear as of 26 August.
The Nembe Creek oilfield, developed by Shell in the 1970s and acquired by Aiteo in 2015, has a history of spills, including the 2019 Santa Barbara Well 1 incident and a major 2021 discharge that lasted over a month. Community leaders appealed to the Bayelsa Government and regulators to intervene, while ECARD called for comprehensive cleanup and remediation to restore livelihoods. Public Affairs officials at Nembe E & P declined to comment when contacted.
