The federal government has ordered the reinforcement of security around all dormant oil wells in Ogoniland, Rivers State, to prevent interference, vandalism, and acts of sabotage.
The government also vowed to identify and prosecute individuals linked to the massive oil spill at the Yorla Oil Field in the Kpean community of Khana Local Government Area of the state.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, disclosed this on Monday during an on-the-spot assessment of the spill site in Kpean, when he led a federal government delegation to evaluate the extent of environmental damage caused by the incident.
The Yorla Oil Field was hit by a major oil spill in September, with crude oil spreading across farmlands and vegetation, further compounding decades of environmental degradation in Ogoniland.
While a civil society group, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC), led by its Executive Director, Fyneface Dumnamene, had earlier alleged that the spill was caused by equipment failure, Ribadu said preliminary findings pointed clearly to sabotage.
Describing the scene as distressing, Ribadu said the well had been inactive for more than 30 years, ruling out operational failure as the cause of the spill.
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“We have seen the devastation. It is extensive and terrible, and anyone who sees it will truly feel bad. It is unfortunate,” Ribadu said.
“The sad part is that this is sabotage. This is a well that has not been active for over 30 years. Enemies of the people, very selfish individuals, vandalise facilities in the hope of stealing crude. The damage they have caused is terrible.
“This visit is directly on the directive of the president. We are here to show concern and reassure the people that the federal government is fully involved.”
Ribadu confirmed that the spill had been contained, noting that assets had been deployed to stop the leakage, while recovery and remediation efforts were ongoing.
He said investigations were underway to identify those responsible, stressing that prosecuting perpetrators remains a critical strategy in curbing oil-related crimes.
“Bringing perpetrators to justice is one of the most effective ways of tackling criminality. It will send a strong message that nobody will get away with this,” he said.
The NSA added that security agencies had been directed to move into all inactive oil-producing areas across Ogoniland, where operations had been abandoned for years, to prevent future incidents.
He said the federal government is engaging directly with Ogoni communities, listening to their concerns and responding to their needs as part of a broader confidence-building process.
As part of the visit, the delegation also toured the Federal University of Environment and Technology, health centres, and other public facilities in the area.
Ribadu commended the Rivers State government for its cooperation and praised Tinubu’s interventions, saying Ogoniland was entering a new phase after decades of neglect.
“This wealth belongs to the community and to all of us. Let us protect it instead of allowing a few selfish individuals to destroy it,” he said.
On his part, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Bashir Ojulari, said a joint investigation visit had already been conducted at the spill site, with a second visit currently in progress.
He explained that the initial assessment was carried out under unsafe conditions due to high pressure at the site, but the follow-up visit would allow for a more thorough evaluation.
“The good news is that the Ogoni people have welcomed the NNPC and the teams, under the leadership of the NSA, to re-enter the area and begin work,” Ojulari said.
Ojulari said the next step would be a comprehensive asset integrity assessment to determine the condition of existing facilities, secure vulnerable points, carry out remediation, and rehabilitate assets with a view to achieving safe production in the future.
Also, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, described the spill as disturbing, especially as it occurred at a time when the well was inactive.
He confirmed that the spill had been stopped and said arrangements were being made, in collaboration with the office of the national security adviser, to identify and address other areas prone to similar incidents.
Lawal assured residents that environmental restoration would be handled in line with established standards to minimise long-term ecological damage and protect livelihoods in the affected communities.
