A coalition of civil society organisations under The People’s Assembly organised by Social Action has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a national environmental and public health emergency in Bille community, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, over persistent gas eruptions allegedly linked to 11 deaths.
The coalition also demanded the immediate relocation of residents to safer locations, emergency medical intervention and the release of funds to identify and contain the source of the gas, which continues to bubble from creeks, boreholes, hand-dug wells, school grounds and residential compounds.
Speaking at a press conference in Port Harcourt on Thursday, the Executive Director of Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre and co-convener of the Assembly, Dr Emem Okon, described the situation as a looming humanitarian disaster requiring urgent federal intervention.
Okon said the gas had been bubbling from the ground and water in Bille for about a year, contaminating the air and threatening residents’ lives.
She warned that families could no longer safely cook, drink their water or depend on fishing for their livelihoods, adding that continued government inaction could lead to further loss of lives.
She said, “This is a national emergency that cannot wait. Gas has been bubbling from the ground and water in Bille for about a year, contaminating the air and threatening the lives of residents. Families can no longer safely cook, drink their water or depend on fishing for their livelihoods.”
According to the coalition, the eruption, which reportedly began around October 2025, has triggered repeated fires and explosions, with 11 deaths associated with the crisis. Several residents have also reportedly suffered vomiting, breathing difficulties and other illnesses.
The group said independent monitoring detected unsafe levels of methane, hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide in the community, raising concerns about prolonged exposure.
It added that the crisis had disrupted fishing and other economic activities, while contaminated water sources and rising living costs had worsened poverty.
In an open letter to President Bola Tinubu and other federal authorities, the coalition, comprising The People’s Assembly and Bille Working Group, called for a presidential task force to investigate and resolve the crisis.
It expressed concern that despite joint investigation visits by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the source of the gas eruption remained unidentified.
The coalition also alleged that inadequate funding had hampered NOSDRA’s ability to conduct further investigations and remediation.
It demanded the immediate publication of preliminary soil and water test results to inform residents about the substances contaminating their environment.
Dr Prince Edegbuo of Social Action urged the Federal Government to move beyond investigations and protect residents through temporary relocation, safe shelters, clean drinking water, food and healthcare until the community was confirmed safe.
The group further demanded emergency funding for NOSDRA, activation of the regional Spill Command Centre and access to the Upstream Remediation Fund.
It called for the deployment of fingerprinting technology to identify the gas source, an audit of active, idle and abandoned oil facilities within Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 18 and 24, and temporary suspension of oil and gas operations in affected areas.
Meanwhile, Kentebe Ebiaridor of Oilwatch International called for stronger accountability in the petroleum sector, insisting that current and former operators of OMLs 18 and 24 should be held jointly liable and affected residents compensated.
The coalition also announced the launch of its ‘No Clean-Up, No Vote’ campaign across the Niger Delta to mobilise residents to demand credible, funded and time-bound environmental remediation plans from political parties and candidates ahead of future elections.
“Our message to every political party and candidate is simple: the people of the Niger Delta will support those who present clear and credible plans to clean up polluted communities, protect public health and hold oil companies accountable. Where there is no clean-up, there will be no vote.”
Edegbuo warned that the Bille crisis could escalate into a national security emergency if left unresolved, urging the Federal Government to treat it as a priority.
He said addressing the situation could also provide a framework for tackling similar environmental emergencies in Uzere, Alakiri, Rumuekpe and Aleto.
Blessing Ibunge
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