Civil society organisation, Social Action, has raised alarm over what it described as severe environmental pollution in Bille community in Rivers State, calling for the inclusion of host communities in the exit plans of International Oil Companies (IOCs) divesting from the Niger Delta.
The group disclosed that the land, water and air in Bille have been significantly contaminated by hydrocarbon pollution, posing serious health and safety risks to residents.
According to Social Action, laboratory analysis conducted by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) on air samples collected from Bille in December 2025 confirmed the presence of hydrocarbon gases, indicating worsening environmental conditions in the area.
It stated that while initial readings taken on December 6 showed low but detectable levels of methane, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), subsequent analysis carried out on December 17 recorded significantly higher methane concentrations, including values exceeding 36 per cent of the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL), alongside continued detection of hydrogen sulfide.
The organisation said the findings suggest active and pressurised gas migration rather than normal atmospheric conditions, adding that the low presence of combustion-related pollutants points to uncontrolled hydrocarbon emissions likely linked to compromised oil and gas infrastructure.
Social Action made the disclosure after participating in a town hall meeting at the HEDA Resource Centre, where stakeholders from across the Niger Delta discussed concerns surrounding oil divestment and the accountability of companies exiting the region.
The group noted that participants, including community representatives and civil society organisations, expressed concern that some oil companies are leaving the Niger Delta without adequate transparency, accountability or remediation of environmental damage.
It said the divestment process has raised fears that host communities may be left to deal with abandoned oil facilities and unresolved ecological challenges without proper compensation or cleanup.
According to Social Action, affected communities are often excluded from critical decisions regarding asset transfers to new operators and are insufficiently informed about the implications of such changes, including benefits expected under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The organisation also raised concerns about the continued pollution of land and water by abandoned oil infrastructure, warning that such conditions threaten livelihoods, public health and environmental sustainability in the region.
It further alleged that compensation processes in some cases have been undermined by irregularities, including elite capture, which has prevented impacted residents from receiving adequate benefits.
Social Action maintained that environmental rights are fundamental human rights, stressing that the situation in the Niger Delta should be treated as an urgent human rights issue requiring immediate intervention.
Among its demands, the group called for full disclosure of all oil asset divestment agreements, immediate cleanup and proper decommissioning of abandoned facilities, transparent compensation mechanisms, stronger enforcement of the Petroleum Industry Act, and mandatory inclusion of host communities in decision-making processes affecting their environment.
The organisation reiterated its commitment to supporting affected communities in advocating accountability, protection of livelihoods and environmental justice.
“The Niger Delta cannot be abandoned. Accountability must come before exit,” the group stated.
