The Nigerian Senate has called on the Federal Government to declare a national emergency to overhaul the country’s oil infrastructure, focusing on the rebuilding, rehabilitation, and recalibration of onshore oil wells, flow stations, and pipelines to revive the oil sector.
This resolution follows a motion addressing the recent oil spill and fire outbreak at Manifold Well 8/BUG 008 in OML 18, Bukuma (Agum), Rivers State.
The Senate directed the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to investigate the incident and submit a detailed report within four weeks.
It also urged the Ecological Project Management Committee (EPMC) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to deploy intervention funds to address environmental damage, health hazards, and livelihood losses caused by the disaster.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC OML 18 Ltd.) was called upon to deploy emergency teams for disaster assessment and remediation, while the Committees on Environment and Petroleum Resources (Upstream) were tasked with ensuring compliance with environmental laws.
The motion, titled “Urgent Need to Mitigate the Recent Fire Outbreak and Oil Spillage from Manifold Well 8/BUG 008,” was sponsored by Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo (PDP, Rivers West).
Banigo highlighted the recurring environmental crises in the Niger Delta, attributing them to sabotage, weak safety protocols, and poor regulation enforcement. She emphasized the severe impact on public health and livelihoods in communities like Buguma Asalga and Degema.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan called for greater transparency in the oil industry, urging strict penalties for environmental violations, while Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (PDP, Kebbi North) stressed the need for better infrastructure planning and comprehensive environmental surveys.
