Civil society organisations have expressed alarm over the ongoing environmental crisis in Bille Kingdom, Rivers State, where reports of underwater vibrations and a suspected gas eruption have been ongoing. The groups, including Environmental Rights Action and Social Action, made an advocacy visit to the Port Harcourt office of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to push for urgent action.
Programme Manager of Environmental Rights Action, Kentebe Ebiaridor, stated that while there are indications of planned interventions, the absence of a clear timeline remains a major concern. He called on the Federal Government to act swiftly in the interest of a community that has contributed significantly to the nation's economy.
Resource Justice Manager at Social Action, Dr. Prince Edegbuo, warned that the situation is fast evolving into a public health emergency. He urged authorities to make findings from investigations public and to prioritise the safety of residents.
A stakeholder from the community, Owandemi Deinbo, expressed hope that government intervention would come before the situation deteriorates further. He noted that residents have endured nearly a year of unusual environmental activity, including bubbling rivers, ground tremors, and isolated fire outbreaks.
The Zonal Head of NOSDRA in Port Harcourt, Bello Augustin, assured that the agency is actively engaging the matter, noting that it has now been elevated to a national energy security concern.
The Federal Government's inaction on the environmental crisis in Bille Kingdom, Rivers State, is a stark example of its lack of urgency in addressing pressing national concerns. Programme Manager of Environmental Rights Action, Kentebe Ebiaridor, has explicitly stated that the absence of a clear timeline for intervention is a major concern, implying that the government's response is slow and inadequate. This situation has the potential to escalate into a serious public health crisis, with far-reaching consequences for the community and the nation as a whole.
