Reps probe prolonged Bille gas leak, demand urgent action as emissions persist

By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

ABUJA — The House of Representatives Committee on the South-South Development Commission has commenced an investigation into the prolonged gas leak in Bille Community, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, expressing concern over the environmental and humanitarian impact of the incident nearly a year after it was first reported.

At an investigative session held on Thursday at the National Assembly, lawmakers questioned officials of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) over the delayed response, conflicting reports and the continued hardship faced by residents.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Julius Pondi, said the investigation was aimed at determining the cause of the gas emissions, assessing the adequacy of emergency response efforts and strengthening regulatory oversight.

“The committee approaches this engagement with an open mind. Our objective is to establish the facts, identify operational or regulatory shortcomings, ensure accountability and make recommendations that will improve environmental governance,” Pondi said.

Presenting NOSDRA’s report, Director of Oil Field Assessment, Cyrus Nkangwang, said the agency became aware of the gas emissions in October 2025 following reports from residents.

He said investigations confirmed elevated levels of methane, hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide, as well as groundwater contamination, poor air quality and potential health risks.

Responding to questions from lawmakers, NOSDRA confirmed that the gas leak was still ongoing.

“It is still leaking,” a NOSDRA official said.

The agency explained that the incident differed from conventional oil spills because it was not linked to any known oil facility.

According to the official, the gas seepage developed gradually before it was reported by members of the community.

Representing the NUPRC, Mr. Jishep Olushola said the commission became directly involved after a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources on February 4, 2026.

He said joint investigations involving Renaissance Africa Energy, Newcross Exploration and Production, NNPC Eighteen Operating Limited and host community representatives detected methane emissions across about 1.5 kilometres of the community.

Olushola said extensive geological and laboratory investigations found no evidence linking the emissions to existing oil and gas facilities.

“There is no relationship between the pipelines or facilities and the gas seepage,” he said.

He explained that preliminary findings suggested the gas was migrating from deep underground reservoirs rather than surface infrastructure.

According to him, the incident is unprecedented in Nigeria’s petroleum industry due to its scale, duration and the widespread impact on boreholes and water wells within the community.

Lawmakers, however, questioned why residents had continued to suffer while investigations were still ongoing.

Pondi asked what relief measures had been provided for affected residents whose water sources and farmlands had been impacted.

In response, the NUPRC said although no operator had been found responsible for the incident, the industry had provided relief materials to the community as part of its corporate social responsibility, while a medical outreach programme would begin within two weeks.

The commission also confirmed that both air and water quality in the community had been affected.

“The water is contaminated and the air is polluted,” the NUPRC official said.

He added that temporary safety measures had been introduced to vent gas above rooftop level to reduce fire risks pending the identification of the source of the seepage.

The hearing also revealed discrepancies between reports submitted by NOSDRA and the NUPRC.

Lawmakers queried a section of NOSDRA’s report which suggested that the NUPRC had no pipeline records in the area, a claim the commission rejected.

The NUPRC maintained that it had complete records of all pipelines and their operational status, while NOSDRA acknowledged that its report reflected comments made during an earlier stakeholders’ meeting and may have created a misleading impression.

Several lawmakers criticised what they described as the slow pace of response to the incident.

Some members argued that if the leak could not be contained after several months, relocating residents might become necessary.

Others urged the Federal Government to involve the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), describing the situation as a humanitarian emergency.

The committee also questioned why the Environmental Remediation Fund established under the Petroleum Industry Act had not been deployed.

Responding, the NUPRC said remediation could only begin after investigators identified and stopped the source of the gas seepage.

“Any attempt to carry out remediation now will be like plastering over cracks. We must first identify and stop the source,” the official said.

The commission disclosed that it had advised the Rivers State Government to consider a managed evacuation of residents pending the outcome of ongoing health and risk assessments.

Pondi assured residents that the committee would sustain its oversight until a lasting solution was achieved, stressing that protecting lives, public health and the environment remained its priority.