A coalition of civil society groups has urged President Bola Tinubu to declare a national environmental and public health emergency in Bille community, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, over persistent underground gas eruptions that have been linked to 11 deaths.
The People’s Assembly, organised by Social Action, made the call at a press conference in Port Harcourt on Thursday. The groups also demanded the immediate relocation of residents to safer areas, emergency medical care, and funds to identify and stop the gas that continues to bubble from creeks, boreholes, hand-dug wells, school grounds and residential compounds.
Dr Emem Okon, executive director of Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre and co-convener of the Assembly, described the situation as a looming humanitarian disaster. She said gas had been emerging from the ground and water in Bille for about a year, contaminating the air and endangering lives.
“This is a national emergency that cannot wait,” Okon said. “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 eruptions began around October 2025 and have caused repeated fires and explosions. Eleven deaths have been associated with the crisis, while several residents have suffered vomiting, breathing difficulties and other illnesses.
Independent monitoring detected unsafe levels of methane, hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide, raising concerns about prolonged exposure.
The crisis has disrupted fishing and other economic activities. Contaminated water sources and rising living costs have deepened poverty in the community.
In an open letter to the president and federal authorities, the People’s Assembly and the Bille Working Group called for a presidential task force to investigate and resolve the problem. They expressed concern that joint visits by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission had not identified the source of the gas. The groups alleged that inadequate funding had limited NOSDRA’s ability to conduct further investigations and remediation.
They demanded the immediate publication of preliminary soil and water test results so residents could understand the substances affecting 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 is confirmed safe. The coalition also called for emergency funding for NOSDRA, activation of the regional Spill Command Centre, access to the Upstream Remediation Fund, the use of fingerprinting technology to trace the gas source, an audit of active, idle and abandoned oil facilities in Oil Mining Leases 18 and 24, and temporary suspension of oil and gas operations in the affected areas.
Kentebe Ebiaridor of Oilwatch International pressed for stronger accountability, saying current and former operators of OMLs 18 and 24 should be held jointly liable and residents compensated.
The groups announced the launch of a “No Clean-Up, No Vote” campaign across the Niger Delta. They said residents would 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. He said resolving it could also provide a framework for addressing similar environmental problems in communities such as Uzere, Alakiri, Rumuekpe and Aleto.
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