At least 10 oil spill incidents were recorded across Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Imo states in July, according to a PREMIUM TIMES review of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA)’s Oil Spill Monitor.
The incidents involved major oil producers, including Renaissance Africa Energy Company, Heirs Energies, Seplat Energy, Oando and Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO), with sabotage, corrosion, operational failures and equipment defects identified as the leading causes.
The review shows that Rivers State accounted for the highest number of reported incidents during the month, while pipeline infrastructure remained the most affected oil facility.
The spills occurred despite successive federal administrations committing billions of naira annually to pipeline surveillance and protection contracts aimed at reducing crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and associated environmental pollution.
PREMIUM TIMES has previously reported that although the federal government continues to increase spending on pipeline protection, oil-producing communities remain vulnerable to recurring spills, while clean-up and remediation efforts often lag behind.
