The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has led a high-powered federal delegation to Kpean, Yorla Well 14, to reaffirm the agency’s resolve to ensure the full restoration of the environment following a recent oil spill in Ogoniland, Rivers State.
Its Director-General, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, who spoke during the inspection visit to the site, said the initiative was intended to assess the extent of environmental degradation and evaluate ongoing response and remediation efforts.
Woke assured the residents of Ogoniland that the agency would continue to exercise its mandate diligently, working with all stakeholders to ensure accountability, timely remediation, and long-term environmental protection in the region.
The Director-General explained that the visit underscored NOSDRA’s statutory responsibility to respond promptly to oil spill incidents and ensure that polluted environments are restored to their pristine state.
According to him, the findings from the site showed that the spill at Yorla Well 14 persisted beyond the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV), which concluded on August 8, 2025, emphasising that sustained community engagement remains critical to achieving lasting solutions to oil spill challenges in Ogoniland.
He further explained that although the spill’s source was identified, the host community’s initial denial of access to the facility delayed repairs by the operator, NEPL, leading to a secondary spill and necessitating urgent federal intervention.
“NOSDRA would not compromise on the enforcement of environmental regulations, noting that operators must act swiftly to contain spills, while host communities must cooperate to prevent further environmental harm.”
Also speaking, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, warned that such incidents must not recur and called for improved surveillance and enhanced protection of critical oil assets and infrastructure across Ogoniland, saying safeguarding facilities is key to preventing environmental degradation and associated economic losses.
The Group Managing Director of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Ojulari, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to a comprehensive cleanup and remediation of the affected area, assuring that all necessary technical assessments would be carried out to ensure the full restoration of the impacted environment.
The federal delegation included the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, and the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, reflecting the Federal Government’s coordinated approach to addressing environmental pollution in the Niger Delta.
Also present were NOSDRA officials who accompanied the Director-General, including the Director of Oil Field Assessment, Dr. Yusuf Rigasa; Zonal Head, Port Harcourt, Mr. Augustine Bello; Head of the NOSDRA Reference Laboratory, Dr. Kenneth Aroh; Dr. Ismailia Ahmed Baba; and Mr. Chinedu Ogah.
