An oil spill has occurred at Nembe Creek oilfield from crude loading operations in Bayelsa, affecting several fishing communities, residents and environment.

The Nembe Creek oilfield within Oil Mining Lease 29 (OML) is operated by Nembe Exploration & Production Limited formerly Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Limited.

A field report by Environmental Conservation Agriculture and Rural Development (ECARD), indicates that the incident occurred on August 22, when a barge loading crude oil from a manifold at the facility reportedly ruptured.

ECARD said it observed crude oil along the creek and mangrove banks, while the spill had spread to several fishing settlements, with residents reporting loss of fishing activities and damage to fishing equipment.

The report said subsequent spills around the Nembe Creek facility had frequently been linked by residents and environmental groups to crude-loading activities.

Its Lead Field Monitor, Chief Alagoa Morris, said the pungent smell of crude oil became noticeable about two kilometres from Nembe Creek during the visit, saying that the organisation toured the spill impacted site on August 24.

ECARD said information from the Bayelsa Ministry of Environment and Nembe Oil and Gas Committee indicated that the Joint Investigation Visit had identified operational failure as the cause.

Also, the paramount ruler of Nembe Creek communities, Agent Waya, said the incident had worsened the hardship faced by residents, adding that the community reported the spill to naval personnel after Aiteo officials allegedly failed to respond immediately to their concerns.

He said women from the affected communities later protested at the Aiteo facility, demanding relief materials, assessment of damages and compensation.

According to him, the spill reportedly occurred while crude oil was being loaded into a barge, which subsequently tilted and discharged crude into the river.

Waya said the affected communities requested relief materials within three days because residents could no longer engage in fishing, citing Mile 1, Mile 2, Mile 3, Roka, Williamkiri, Atonbarakiri, Korukiri and Madam Wanwakiri.

 Among the affected communities, he said, included Ewelesuo, Kpongbokiri, Victorkiri, ‘Abuja’ 1, 2 and 3, Pipeline 1, 2, 3 and 4, Kalakububogo and Etikiri.

Speaking on the oil spill, the women leader, Mrs Ebi Otokolo, said the pollution had made the river waters unusable for fishing, domestic activities and other livelihood purposes.

She however,said residents had been forced to remain indoors because of the crude oil odour, while fishermen could no longer access their means of livelihood.

On her part,Mrs Love Mark, said some fishing nets contaminated by crude oil had become unusable, adding, individual fishing nets cost between N150,000 and N170,000, adding that affected residents needed urgent assistance from the operator.

Former youth President of neighbouring Ewelesuo community, Mr Daukoru Benjaka called for the inclusion of the community and its fishing camps in the Joint Investigation Visit, saying ,the spill had affected fish catches and other aquatic resources, like periwinkles, while threatening the survival of fishing communities.

Residents also accused oil operations of restricting fishing through the deployment of large lifebuoys and the movement of crude-loading vessels, stressing that fishing nets were sometimes caught by the buoys or damaged by vessels operating around the loading areas.

It was learned its observations showed substantial crude oil on the water and along mangrove roots, despite residents’ reports that tidal movement had thinned the pollution.

Similarly ,it said rising tides could carry crude oil deeper into the mangrove ecosystem and affected aquatic organisms, including crabs, oysters and periwinkles.

It said the volume of crude spilled and the extent of the affected area remained inconclusive as of August 26, and the latest incident was part of a history of oil spills associated with operations in OML 29.

However, the Nembe Creek oilfield, is the largest oil and gas field within OML 29, developed by Shell Petroleum Development Company from the 1970s. Shell divested its interest in OML 29 including the 97 kilometer Nembe Creek Trunkline to Aiteo in 2015 for about $ 2.5 billion.

The notable oil spill incidents was in 2019 at Santa Barbara Well 1 and the major 2021 incident, which reportedly discharged crude oil into the environment for more than a month.

The paramount ruler appealed to the Bayelsa Government and relevant authorities to intervene, saying the communities were facing severe economic hardship,
urging Aiteo to provide regular support to fishermen whose livelihoods had allegedly been affected by oil pollution and operational restrictions.

ECARD also called for urgent comprehensive cleanup and remediation of the polluted Nembe Creek environment to restore the ecosystem and the communities’ fishing livelihoods.