An oil spill and fire at a wellhead in Buguma, Rivers State, Nigeria, have persisted for four weeks, raising concerns over environmental destruction. Rights groups, including the Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) and Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), reported that residents first alerted them to the incident, which remains unaddressed by authorities or operators.
EDEN’s executive director, Chima Williams, described the situation as an environmental crisis that has disrupted the livelihoods of local communities. He urged authorities to extinguish the blaze and stop the ongoing spill, which has caused severe pollution in the area.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd., which operates the affected asset, attributed the fire to sabotage by oil thieves attempting to steal crude. The company noted that the incident is part of a pattern of attacks on wellheads, including the use of explosives.
NNPC stated that efforts are underway to contain the fire and minimize the financial damage caused by these criminal acts.
The Niger Delta region has suffered decades of oil spills, resulting in extensive environmental degradation. This has severely impacted the health and livelihoods of millions of residents dependent on the environment for their sustenance.