The recent crude oil spill in Ogale, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State on February 3, 2025, has raised concerns, especially as the signing of the Federal University of Environmental Technology, Ogoni, into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should have been a moment of celebration. The spill occurred at the Ogale Manifold, with reports from the Youth and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) indicating that it was caused by an equipment failure during maintenance work conducted by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
The spill, which filled underground pits and began flowing onto the pipeline right-of-way, is situated near the Ogoni Cleanup Project site. There have been allegations of violence at the scene, with the Eleme Youth President, Mr. Walter Olaka, reportedly overseeing the confiscation of trucks used for evacuating the oil and involvement in the injury of individuals, including a man who was stabbed during the altercation.
In response, YEAC-Nigeria has called for an urgent police investigation into the violent incident and a joint investigation visit by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA). They also urge NOSDRA to invoke the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, to ensure effective cleanup and containment efforts and appropriate compensation for those affected by the spill.
This incident highlights ongoing challenges in managing oil spills and environmental protection in the Niger Delta region, as well as the socio-political tensions that arise in the aftermath of such environmental disasters.
