Fire Ravages NNPCL Facility in Rivers State

A devastating fire breaks out at an NNPCL facility in Rivers State, causing significant damage and sparking concerns about safety and operational impacts.

A catastrophic fire erupted at the wellhead of OML15, a facility managed by Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), situated at the Bukuma/Buguma flow station in Asari-Toru Local Government Area, Rivers State.

The fire, which raged for four days, is thought to have been ignited by shelling from security agencies trying to combat oil theft in the area.

Reports indicate that the fire ignited following a series of security operations intended to safeguard the facility from illegal activities, such as oil theft.

Livingstone Membere, President of the Kalabari Youths Federation (KYF), visited the site with a media team and explained that heavy shelling had led to an oil spill, which eventually sparked the fire.

Civil society organizations have criticized the federal and state governments, along with relevant agencies and the operator, for not extinguishing the fire four days after it began.

In separate statements released to journalists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Tuesday, the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), along with the Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) and Defense for Human Rights and Democracy (DHRD), urged immediate measures to extinguish the fire.

EDEN, through a statement by its Executive Director Chima Williams, criticized the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), and other oil regulatory agencies for failing to implement essential measures to safeguard both the environment and local communities from severe environmental disasters. The organization insisted that this constituted gross negligence of human rights as well as environmental responsibilities.

It’s regrettable that for the residents of these areas, 2025 has begun poorly due to environmental disruptions affecting their livelihoods. In a well-functioning society where government ministries and agencies are proactive, an oil spill should not persist for such an extended period, let alone cause a fire outbreak capable of swiftly devastating human life as well as aquatic and wildlife.

Williams emphasized that in addition to the environmental and ecological harm, residents of the area have been exposed to various chemicals that could pose health risks due to the sensitivity of the riverine terrain.

He urged the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, NOSDRA, and other relevant agencies to fulfill their duty in safeguarding the interests of everyday citizens. Additionally, he appealed to military and security forces to implement more professional and environmentally conscious methods for addressing oil theft and bunkering in the Niger Delta region.

The Chairman of DHRD, Clifford Christopher, warned that he would organize mass protests and pursue legal action against the government and NNPCL if urgent measures are not taken to extinguish the fire promptly.

Christopher expressed strong disapproval that the host communities in the Niger Delta region have endured the effects of oil exploration for decades. He urged for remediation and compensation measures to be implemented for those affected by spills and fire outbreaks.

The Defense for Human Rights and Democracy (DHRD) expresses deep concern over the extended oil spill in the Buguma waterways located within Degema local government area of Rivers State. The coastal oil well and facility, managed by Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), represent a significant environmental hazard that threatens both the environment and residents’ right to life. Unfortunately, this incident has persisted far too long, resulting in devastating impacts on the lives of Indigenous communities due to what could have been an preventable disaster.

The Defense for Human Rights and Democracy urges the Federal Government of Nigeria, NNPCL, Rivers State government, NOSDRA, and all relevant agencies to promptly act to halt further damage, remediate the situation, restore the environment, and provide sufficient compensation to affected communities. Failure to do so may result in widespread protests and legal action.

For several decades, the Niger Delta region has dealt with environmental degradation and exploration-related hazards that have diminished both the lifespan of its inhabitants and their livelihoods. If there is no response to this urgent request within seven days, we will be compelled to initiate mass protests and pursue legal action.