The Federal Government has directed the immediate strengthening of security around all dormant oil wells in Ogoniland, Rivers State, to prevent tampering and acts of sabotage.
The government also pledged to identify and prosecute those responsible for the large-scale oil spill at the Yorla Oil Field in Kpean community, Khana Local Government Area of the state.
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, disclosed this on Monday while leading a Federal Government delegation to Kpean, Ogoniland, to assess the extent of damage caused by the spill.
The oil spill, which occurred in September, devastated farmlands and vegetation across the affected communities.
Earlier, a civil society organisation, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, led by its Executive Director, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene, alleged that the incident resulted from equipment failure.
However, Ribadu countered the claim during the visit, describing the spill as an act of sabotage and calling on residents to protect both community and national assets.
He said, “We have seen the devastation. It is extensive and terrible, and anyone who sees it will truly feel bad. It is unfortunate. Those in charge have done a good job in controlling it and stopping the spill.
“Now, the assessment of the damage and how to restore the area to minimise the impact is ongoing. The sad part is that this is sabotage. It is a well that has not been active for over 30 years.
“Enemies of the people, unfortunately, very selfish individuals, come to vandalise facilities in the hope of stealing crude. The damage they have caused is terrible. What we have done today is to show concern. We are worried.
This visit is directly on the directive of Mr President.”
The NSA confirmed that assets had been deployed to contain the spill, noting that it had been stopped and that recovery efforts were underway.
He added, “Part of what we have done is to engage the Ogoni people. We put the communities first, listen to them and respond to their needs and demands, which the Federal Government is doing.
‘Investigations are ongoing, and we will go after those responsible. Bringing perpetrators to justice is one of the most effective ways of tackling criminality. It will send a strong message that nobody will get away with this.”
Ribadu further assured residents that security agencies had been instructed to move into all inactive oil-producing areas in Ogoniland where operations had ceased for years, to prevent future incidents.
He said the delegation also visited the Federal University of Environment and Technology, health centres and other facilities in the area as part of the engagement process.
The NSA commended the Rivers State Government for its efforts and praised President Bola Tinubu’s interventions, noting that Ogoniland was experiencing renewed development after decades of environmental degradation.
“This wealth belongs to the community and to all of us. Let us protect it instead of allowing a few selfish individuals to destroy it,” he said.
On his part, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bashir Ojulari, said a Joint Investigation Visit had already been conducted at the spill site, with a second visit currently ongoing.
He explained that the first assessment was carried out when pressure levels were still high and conditions unsafe, while the follow-up visit would enable a more thorough evaluation.
“The good news is that the Ogoni people have welcomed the NNPC and the teams under the leadership of the NSA to re-enter the area and begin work,” he said.
Ojulari added that the next step would be a comprehensive asset integrity assessment to determine the condition of facilities, secure vulnerable points, carry out remediation and repair assets, with the goal of achieving safe production in the future.
Similarly, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, described the spill as disturbing but confirmed that it had been stopped, noting that it occurred while the well was inactive.
He said arrangements were being finalised, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser, to address other locations vulnerable to similar spill incidents.
