Rivers Community Pleads for Relocation as Gas Leak Triggers Fire Outbreak

Residents of Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State are living in fear following a gas leak that has persisted for eight months and recently sparked a fire outbreak, leading to calls for a state of emergency and temporary relocation of the coastal community.

The gas emissions, which began in October 2025 from an unidentified facility, have repeatedly prompted pleas from the community for government intervention. Governor Siminalayi Fubara had earlier visited the site and released N100 million as emergency relief through the Secretary to the State Government.

Several persons have reportedly been injured in the fire outbreak as efforts to contain it continue.

The Secretary of the Bille Council of Traditional Rulers, Luckyman Igila, said the latest incident marks the third fire linked to the persistent gas leak. He accused the Federal Government and relevant agencies of abandoning the community despite repeated promises.

Igila warned that residents may be forced to take actions that could disrupt oil and gas operations in the area if urgent steps are not taken.

He noted that Bille Kingdom hosts oil mining leases OML-18, OML-24 and OML-55, adding that the government would act swiftly if production were stopped.

Meanwhile, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre+Nigeria confirmed that gas leakage bubbling from the ground around Opu Dah community had ignited on an abandoned mono pump head.

The group’s Executive Director, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene, described the incident as the materialisation of repeated warnings that Bille was sitting on a keg of gunpowder.

YEAC-Nigeria urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Bille kingdom to enable immediate intervention and suspend bureaucratic delays.

The organisation also called for the temporary relocation of residents from gas-polluted areas to prevent further inhalation of toxic chemicals and possible larger fire incidents.

The group further appealed to the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, and the Nigerian Navy to deploy marine fire service teams and tugboats to contain potential future outbreaks.

Additionally, YEAC-Nigeria called on the Federal Government, Rivers State Government, New Cross Exploration and Production Limited, and other oil firms operating in the area to secure abandoned facilities and halt the gas leaks immediately.