…Trans Niger Pipeline eruption in B-Dere community in Ogoniland
Tracy Ohovwore
Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, alongside other Civil Society Organizations, paid a visit to the spill site where the Trans Niger Pipeline erupted, polluting B-Dere community under Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
It was noted that the incident on May 6th, 2025, was the result of equipment failure.
Similarly, the same incident had earlier occurred in the Bodo community on March 17, 2025, causing a massive fire that spread through the mangroves.
According to HOMEF, these spills clearly show the massive risks the affected communities will be exposed to if the federal government’s desire to resume oil extraction in Ogoniland is realised.
The environmental body also noted that many of the B-Dere community people have been internally displaced, while those already impacted by the spill are living in fear over their health and safety.
During the visit, distressed indigenes of the affected community expressed the high level of pain and a sense of exposure and abandonment.
Chief Mrs Augustina Biebie, women leader of the community stated that the level of restlessness in the community has only worsened.
“The spill brought crude oil into the houses of many of our people. The thick smell of crude oil has affected our health. Breathing has become a problem, and it has become difficult to even feed because some of us cannot light fires in our kitchens.” She noted.
Another indigene, Pastor Kpobari Bani, whose house was affected from the spillage, disclosed his inability to prepare meals due to the fear of explosion.
“Since this incident started, I have not been able to cook for fear of explosion. My mother has been displaced and has moved to a neighbour’s house for fear of the explosion. Shell said it has sold to Renaissance Oil, who now owns the pipeline. So we call on them to come and stop the spill. We also call on the government and other relevant authorities to come to our aid and bring remedy to the land.” He lamented.
The Executive Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Dr. Nnimmo Bassey expressed disappointment over the level of neglect to communities.
“We are in a disaster zone and further disasters can erupt from even an accidental a spark of fire. The slow response of government and oil companies underscores the lack of care for the people and the environment. This level of laxity is absolutely unconscionable. The fact that this spill that happened a week ago is yet to be stopped sends a very strong point to why government should focus on cleaning up Ogoniland and not seek to open new oil wells. The old wells should be shut down, and decommissioned. Our communities must not continue to be sacrificed on the altar of petrodollars.”
Bassey further beckoned on all relevant authorities to move into swift action to address the spread of the flowing crude.
“The government cannot be silent at a time as this. This is a time when all agencies should be here to stop halting the shit down the pipeline, stop the pollution and carry out urgent clean up and remediation. We call on NOSDRA, NESRA, MENA and HYPREP to move into swift action to stem the unfolding ecological and human crises.”
In addition, Celestine Akpobari, an environmental activist, condemned the idea of restarting oil exploitation in Ogoni.
According to him, “The exploitation has not started, but the situation is becoming more volatile with spills of this nature. This is supposed to be a remediation site, but as you can see it is an ecological crime scene. We are afraid that if this is not properly contained, the damage will be far worse than what we see.”
HOMEF further demanded that immediate action be deployed to stop the spillage, remediate the land and carry out a thorough health audit on the exposed people of the community as well as holding facilities accountable for their activities.
