The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has demanded urgent cleanup, compensation, and accountability over an oil spill at Nembe Creek in Bayelsa.

The spill occurred on August 22 during crude oil loading operations at Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29. The operational mishap disrupted fishing activities and threatened the livelihoods of coastal communities.

The facility is operated by Nembe Exploration and Production Ltd., formerly Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Ltd, within Oil Mining Lease 29 (OML 29).

HOMEF made the call after a field visit to the affected area, where crude oil was observed in waterways and along mangrove banks. The organisation said the pungent smell of crude was noticeable about two kilometres before reaching the community.

It added that residents reported tidal movements, which had spread the pollution through interconnected waterways and fishing settlements. According to HOMEF, affected communities depend heavily on fishing for food and income.

Residents reportedly complained of damaged fishing nets, reduced fish catches, and inability to use the waterways for fishing and domestic purposes.

They also reported the disappearance of aquatic resources following the pollution. Vice-Chairlady of Nembe Creek women, Mrs Love Mark, said the spill had made fishing nets unusable.

“We cannot go out with our fishing nets and hooks for fishing again,” Mark said.

She said a fishing net now costs between N150,000 and N170,000, making replacement difficult for affected residents.

The paramount ruler of Nembe Creek communities, HRH Agent Waya, said repeated pollution had severely affected fishing livelihoods.

“Due to the destruction of aquatic life, there are no fish in the river,” Waya said.

He said fishermen could use two or three canoes and still return without any catch.
Following the incident, community women reportedly protested at the oil facility, demanding cleanup, damage assessment and support for affected residents.

The Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) concluded that the leak was due to operational failure. HOMEF, however, said the volume of crude released and the full geographical extent of the pollution remained inconclusive as of September 1.

The Executive Director of HOMEF, Dr Nnimmo Bassey, said identifying the cause of a spill should not end the accountability process. Bassey said the latest incident occurred against the background of previous pollution incidents associated with OML 29. He specifically cited the prolonged 2021 Santa Barbara Well 1 spill and wellhead blowout.