In early October 2025, an oil spill from an 8-inch crude delivery pipeline in Nembe, Bayelsa State, polluted communities along the Santa Barbara River.1 The spill, which began on October 1, discharged an unknown volume of crude oil into the river and surrounding areas.2
The pipeline is part of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29, which is operated by Nembe Exploration and Production Company Limited, formerly Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company Limited.3
The affected Opu Nembe Kingdom expressed frustration over the company’s delayed response and a short-notice invitation for a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV).4 The community’s legal counsel called for a thorough investigation, adequate management, and swift post-spill assessment and remediation.5 They also demanded a lasting framework to address the continuous burden of spills in the region. The matter has been escalated to regulatory bodies, including the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the Bayelsa State Commissioner for the Environment.6
This incident is one of many recurring oil spills in Bayelsa communities, which have led to environmental contamination, loss of livelihoods, and health concerns for residents. Other spills have been reported in areas such as Obololi and Ogboinbiri, with pipelines operated by companies like Shell and Oando.7 A May 2025 report from the Environmental Defenders Network noted that a facility now operated by Oando had experienced eight oil spills in nine months, with most attributed to equipment failure.8 The constant pollution has destroyed farmlands, contaminated drinking water, and depleted fish stocks in the rivers. A 2023 report by the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission highlighted the catastrophic environmental and health consequences of oil pollution in the state.9
