Rivers Assembly probes firm over oil spill
The Rivers State House of Assembly has ordered a probe into the allegations that an oil firm, Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, neglected oil spills that devastated the B-Dere community in Gokana Local Government Area of the state. The House raised concerns over the development following a petition written against the company by the community […]
The Rivers State House of Assembly has ordered a probe into the allegations that an oil firm, Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, neglected oil spills that devastated the B-Dere community in Gokana Local Government Area of the state.
The House raised concerns over the development following a petition written against the company by the community through their Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Hamilton Odom & Co.
B-Dere community is one of the Communities in Ogoni which has been severely devastated by pollution for some decades over oil exploration.
The petition was signed by ESV Hamilton Odom and presented on the floor of the House by the Deputy Speaker.
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The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, referred the petition to the House Committee on Public Complaints and Petitions, which is Chaired by Hon. Dr. Enemi Alabo George.
The community in the petition recalled that on May 7th, 2025, an oil spill occurred along the 24 Ogale-Bomu Pipeline crisscrossing their area.
The petitioners explained that a report of the joint team officials from the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) including representatives from the impacted community established the cause of the leak as equipment failure.
They said: “The spill had a devastating impact on the vegetation health leading to stress, defoliation and death. The toxic hydrocarbons in the oil also penetrated plant tissues, disrupting physiological functions and impairing water and nutrient intake. This resulted in stunted growth, plant mortality and hindered regeneration particularly affecting young plants and seedlings.
“The spill also contaminated underground water and disrupted economic activities such as farming leading to loss of income and livelihoods and causing psychological trauma and stress that can have long term effects on mental health and well-being of the people”.