Kpean Oil Spill: NGO Calls For Urgent Remediation, Decommissioning Of Aging Wells

The MIIDEEKOR Environmental Development Initiative (MEDI), an indigenous non-governmental organization, has raised the alarm over the worsening oil spill and fire outbreak in Kpean community, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, accusing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of neglect.
Speaking at a press briefing in Port Harcourt, the Team Lead of MEDI, Comrade Celestine Akpobari, said the oil spill, which started on August 3, 2025, from Well 14 at Yola, Kpean, had contaminated farmlands and rivers, crippling the livelihoods of local farmers and fisher folk.
He disclosed that the situation escalated on August 15, when a fire broke out at the spill site, threatening lives, property, and the fragile ecosystem of Ogoniland.
According to him, a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) carried out on August 13 confirmed that the spill resulted from operational negligence and equipment failure, citing rust and corrosion of a wellhead that had been abandoned since 1993.
“This is not an isolated case,” Akpobari said. “Just three months ago, on May 7, 2025, a spill from the Trans Niger Delta Pipeline ravaged homes and farmlands in B-Dere community, which remains unresolved. In Kpean alone, there are more than 17 aging wells at risk of similar failures due to prolonged neglect.”
He reminded authorities of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland, which, on page 205, specifically recommended the decommissioning of obsolete oil facilities to avert environmental disasters. “Despite this, no significant action has been taken,” he lamented.
The NGO held the NNPCL, as the overseer of OML 11, responsible for the unfolding disaster, while rejecting any attempt to involve Sahara Energy or proxy companies in remediation.
MEDI outlined urgent steps for intervention, including immediate decommissioning of all 17 aging wells in Kpean, in line with UNEP recommendations; adequate compensation to affected farmers and fisherfolk; containment of the fire and comprehensive remediation of the environment; and fencing and securing of all oil wells in Kpean to prevent further hazards.
Akpobari warned that continued neglect of Ogoni communities could heighten tensions. “The people of Kpean are prepared to embark on mass protests and international advocacy if urgent action is not taken,” he declared.
He called on the Federal Government, regulatory agencies, and the international community to hold NNPCL accountable and to support efforts to restore the environment and livelihoods of Ogoni people.
“MIIDEEKOR remains committed to environmental justice and sustainable development in Ogoniland and beyond,” he said.