ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Federal Government has directed the immediate strengthening of security around all inactive oil wells in Ogoniland, Rivers State, to forestall tampering and acts of sabotage.
It also pledged to track down and prosecute individuals connected to 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, made this known on Monday while leading a Federal Government delegation to inspect the level of damage caused by the spill in Kpean, Ogoniland.
The oil field was heavily impacted by a spill in September, which devastated farmlands and vegetation in the area.
Earlier, a civil society organisation, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, headed by its Executive Director, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene, had claimed that the incident resulted from equipment failure.
Ribadu, however, said during the inspection that the spill was clearly an act of sabotage, urging residents to safeguard their resources and those of the nation.
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.
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“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 disclosed that assets had been deployed to tackle the spill, confirming that it had been contained, while recovery work continued.
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 assured residents that security agencies had been instructed to secure all dormant oil-producing locations in Ogoniland where operations had ceased for several years, to prevent a recurrence.
He noted that the delegation also paid visits to the Federal University of Environment and Technology, health facilities and other institutions in the area as part of broader stakeholder engagement.
The NSA praised the Rivers State Government for its efforts and commended President Bola Tinubu’s interventions, saying Ogoniland was entering a new era of development after years of environmental damage.
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“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.
Meanwhile, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bashir Ojulari, said a Joint Investigation Visit had already taken place at the spill location, with another currently in progress.
He explained that the first visit occurred when pressure levels were still high and conditions unsafe, while the follow-up inspection would enable a more detailed 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 stated that the initial phase would involve a comprehensive asset integrity assessment to ascertain the state of facilities, secure weak points, carry out remediation and repair infrastructure, with the aim of ensuring safe production in the future.
Also speaking, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, described the incident as alarming but confirmed that the spill had been halted, noting that it occurred while the well was inactive.
He added that measures were being put in place, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser, to address other locations that could be vulnerable to similar spill incidents.