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Torkwase Nyiekaa
The House of Representatives Committee on the South South Development Commission on Thursday expressed outrage over the prolonged gas leak in Billy Community, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, accusing the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) of failing to respond promptly to an environmental emergency that has endangered lives and livelihoods for nearly eight months.
At an investigative hearing at the National Assembly, lawmakers grilled officials of both agencies over the persistent gas seepage, which residents say has contaminated water sources, polluted the air, disrupted economic activities and exposed the community to serious health risks.
The probe followed growing concerns over reports that gas has continued to seep from the ground in the riverine community since late 2025. Residents allege that the prolonged emissions have rendered boreholes unsafe, crippled fishing and farming activities, and left families living under constant fear of fire outbreaks and other health hazards.
Lawmakers also criticised the absence of key stakeholders, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL), the Rivers State Government, the state’s Ministries of Environment and Health, and the chairman of Degema Local Government Area. They said the absence of the affected operators and government officials denied the House crucial explanations on emergency response efforts, remediation plans and measures taken to safeguard residents.
Opening the hearing, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Julius Pondi, said the investigation formed part of the House’s constitutional oversight responsibility under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
According to him, the hearing was convened to establish the facts surrounding the reported gas leak, evaluate the response of regulatory agencies and operators, and determine the environmental, public health and socio-economic implications of the incident.
“The committee considered it necessary to invite all relevant stakeholders because of the grave environmental, public health, socio-economic and ecological implications of the incident for the people of Billy Community and the wider South South region,” he said.
Pondi noted that the community depends largely on fishing, farming and other natural resource-based livelihoods, making the consequences of the incident particularly severe.
“As representatives of the Nigerian people, we have a duty to ensure that operators in the oil and gas industry conduct their activities in accordance with extant laws, government regulations and international best practices, while ensuring that host communities are adequately protected from avoidable environmental and safety hazards,” he stated.
He said lawmakers also intended to determine the immediate and remote causes of the incident, assess the adequacy of emergency responses, evaluate remediation efforts and examine the broader socio-economic impact on affected residents.
“I wish to emphasise that this committee approaches this engagement with an open mind. Our objective is neither to prejudge any individual or institution nor apportion blame without due process. Rather, we seek to establish the facts, identify operational or regulatory shortcomings where they exist, and make practical recommendations that will strengthen environmental governance and improve regulatory oversight.”
Proceedings, however, turned tense as lawmakers questioned NOSDRA officials over why the incident, first reported in October 2025, had persisted for months without a lasting solution.
Speaking on behalf of the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NOSDRA, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, Mr Cytrus Nkangwung said although reports of gas bubbling first surfaced in October, the agency officially received notification on November 25, 2025, and immediately commenced investigations alongside relevant stakeholders.
He explained that unlike a conventional oil spill or pipeline rupture, the Billy incident involved gas bubbling from the ground and water sources rather than any known oil and gas facility.
Responding to lawmakers’ questions, the agency’s Zonal Head, Mr Augustine Bello, said:
“This incident is not the regular incident that attracts reporting. It is not a leak from any facility. It is gas bubbling that enveloped the community. When we became aware of it, we reached out to stakeholders within the community. It is different from a conventional oil spill.”
The explanation did little to calm lawmakers.
Chairman of the House Committee on Host Communities, Hon. Dumnamene Robinson Dekor, expressed disbelief that months after the incident began, regulators were still unable to determine its cause.
“I feel sad sitting here listening to what you are telling us today. Gas bubbling from the ground, and after all these months, you are still telling us you do not know the cause,” he said.
“Today is a black day in the history of Nigeria that people’s lives could be on the line for this number of months and nothing has been done about it. You sit here suggesting to us that you do not even know what is responsible for it.
“It is a huge shame that people’s lives are at risk. Do you know how many people have died? Their livelihoods have been destroyed, yet nobody seems to care.”
Lawmakers also questioned the apparent lack of immediate relief for affected residents.
“What happened to the people of Billy?” Pondi asked, wondering why residents had remained exposed to polluted air and contaminated water for several months while investigations continued.
Dekor further criticised the absence of major industry operators from the hearing and urged lawmakers to compel them to appear before the committee.
“I want to suggest that we compel all these agencies to appear before this committee. Something must be done. People should not die simply because they live in oil-producing communities.”
Members also queried why NOSDRA requested a N3.4 billion presidential intervention fund to halt the gas release while investigations were still ongoing.
Responding, Bello said the funding request was intended to support emergency containment measures, environmental assessment and relief interventions pending the outcome of comprehensive investigations.
Responding to lawmakers’ concerns, NUPRC maintained that extensive investigations had yet to establish any link between the gas seepage and existing oil and gas infrastructure.
Leading the commission’s delegation, Director of Development and Production, Joseph Olawole Ogunsola, explained that preliminary scientific investigations indicated the gas appeared to be migrating naturally from deep subsurface formations through boreholes and groundwater pathways.
“The result of our evaluation indicates that there is no relationship between any pipeline or facility and the character of the gas seepage. Scientific evidence available to us presently points to a subsurface occurrence rather than a failure of surface infrastructure,” he said.
Ogunsola acknowledged that the community had suffered severe environmental degradation, disruption of livelihoods and public health concerns.
“Billy Community is severely affected. The water is contaminated, there are reports of air pollution and there are safety concerns,” he said.
According to him, the commission adopted a two-pronged strategy involving scientific investigation and humanitarian intervention.
He disclosed that relief materials had already been delivered through an industry-supported initiative, while a comprehensive medical outreach and the provision of safe drinking water were being planned for the community.
“The Commission Chief Executive mobilised the industry because no operator has been found culpable. Nevertheless, we agreed that the industry must rally round and support the people of Billy while investigations continue.
“There is also a planned medical outreach in the next two weeks, while hydrological studies are ongoing to determine how best to provide uncontaminated potable water to the community.”
On whether evacuation of residents was being considered, Ogunsola revealed that the commission had advised relevant authorities to evaluate that option.
“We cannot today determine the full extent of the impact of this seepage. Laboratory analysis shows there are gases that should not ordinarily be inhaled. Government should therefore consider managed evacuation of the affected residents following an appropriate health and risk assessment.”
Lawmakers maintained that the length of time the incident had remained unresolved reflected serious regulatory shortcomings and warned that further delays in addressing the crisis would be unacceptable.
The Billy gas seepage, first reported in late 2025, has become one of the most unusual environmental incidents in Nigeria’s petroleum-producing region. Unlike conventional oil spills linked to ruptured pipelines or failed facilities, preliminary investigations suggest the gas is naturally migrating from deep underground formations rather than existing oil and gas infrastructure.
The committee directed all absent operators and government agencies to appear before lawmakers at a subsequent hearing, insisting that scientific uncertainty must not delay emergency intervention. Members stressed that immediate measures must be taken to protect residents, provide relief to affected families and restore public confidence in environmental regulation.
