By Peter Adelowo
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has confirmed an oil spill from Shell Petroleum Development Company’s (SPDC) 16-inch Nun River-Kolo Creek pipeline at Obololi community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
A statement signed by the Director General of NOSDRA, Chukwuemeka Woke, in Abuja, says the spill was reported on Monday, February 17, 2025.
The statement notes that in response, the agency led a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) on Tuesday, February 18, which included representatives from SPDC, the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, and the local community to assess the situation.
According to the statement, preliminary findings from the JIV revealed that the cause of the spill remains undetermined, as the suspected leak point is submerged in water adding that SPDC has commenced preparatory measures to address the situation, including the construction of a coffer dam to access the leak point.
It reveals that containment measures have been successfully implemented, and temporary storage tanks are being transported to the affected site with the recovery of free-phase oil scheduled to begin on Friday, February 21, 2025.
The statement assures the public that it is actively monitoring the response efforts to ensure proper regulatory compliance and effective mitigation of the spill’s impact. Further updates will be provided as more details emerge.
