Environmental activists from Ogoni in Rivers State have called on the federal government to urgently decommission all aging oil wells in Ogoniland, in line with the United Nations Environment Programme recommendations.
The demand follows a fresh oil spill from Well 14 in Yola, Kpean, Khana Local Government Area, which began on August 3, with a subsequent fire outbreak on August 15, polluting farmlands and rivers, reports Channels TV.
At a press conference in Port Harcourt, the activists, including Celestine AkpoBari, Kentebe Ebiaridor, and Friday Barilule, said the UNEP report, particularly page 205, specifically advised the decommissioning of obsolete oil facilities to avert disasters.
He lamented that years after the report was released, the federal government and NNPC Limited have failed to implement this critical recommendation.
He said a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) conducted on August 13 confirmed the incident was caused by operational negligence and equipment failure, specifically severe rust and corrosion of a wellhead abandoned since 1993.
“This is not an isolated case,” AkpoBari noted, recalling that on May 7, 2025, another spill from the Trans Niger Delta Pipeline devastated farmlands and homes in B-Dere community but remains unaddressed.
He warned that Kpean alone has over 17 aging wells at risk of collapse if urgent action is not taken.
AkpoBari stressed that the recurring oil spills and federal neglect were pushing communities to the brink.
“If urgent action is not taken, residents are prepared to embark on mass protests and international advocacy,” he warned.
He urged the federal government, regulatory agencies, and the international community to hold NNPC accountable and ensure the safety and survival of the people of Ogoniland.
Other demands by the group of activists include adequate compensation for farmers and fisherfolk whose livelihoods are affected, extinguishing the fire and full environmental remediation, and securing of oil wells in Kpean to prevent further hazards.
Another environmental rights activist, Kentebe Ebiaridor, urged the federal government and regulatory agencies to go beyond their focus on oil production and take deliberate steps to protect not just Ogoni, but the entire Niger Delta from recurring environmental disasters.
