The Federal Government has ordered increased security at dormant oil wells in Ogoniland following a major spill in Kpean, Rivers State, as NSA Nuhu Ribadu vows to prosecute perpetrators
The Federal Government has ordered the immediate reinforcement of security at all dormant oil wells in Ogoniland, Rivers State, following a massive oil spill at the Yorla Oil Field in Kpean community, Khana Local Government Area.
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The government also vowed to identify and prosecute those responsible for the spill, which occurred in September and devastated farmlands and vegetation in the area.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, disclosed this on Monday during a visit to Ogoniland, where he led a Federal Government delegation to assess the extent of the environmental damage.
Ribadu described the incident as a clear case of sabotage, dismissing claims by civil society groups that the spill was caused by equipment failure.
“This is sabotage. It is a well that has not been active for over 30 years. Selfish individuals vandalised facilities in the hope of stealing crude, and the damage they caused is terrible,” Ribadu said.
He confirmed that the spill had been successfully stopped, with recovery and remediation efforts currently underway.
According to him, the visit was carried out on the directive of President Bola Tinubu.
The NSA said security agencies had been instructed to move into all inactive oil-producing areas in Ogoniland to prevent future vandalism and criminal interference.
“Investigations are ongoing, and we will go after those responsible. Bringing perpetrators to justice is one of the most effective ways to tackle criminality,” he added.
Ribadu also noted that the Federal Government is prioritising community engagement, assuring residents that their concerns would be addressed while urging them to protect national assets.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Bashir Ojulari, said a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) had already been conducted, with a second visit ongoing to allow for a comprehensive assessment under safer conditions.
Ojulari said the next steps include a full asset integrity assessment, securing vulnerable facilities, remediation, and eventual repairs aimed at achieving safe future production.
Similarly, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, described the incident as disturbing but confirmed that the spill occurred while the well was inactive and had since been contained.
He said arrangements were being finalised, in collaboration with the Office of the NSA, to prevent similar incidents across other vulnerable locations.
Ribadu commended the Rivers State Government and praised President Tinubu’s interventions, noting that Ogoniland was entering a new phase of development after decades of environmental degradation.
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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.
