Residents of the Obololi community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State are in distress following an oil spill on February 16 that has contaminated the Obololi River and its creeks. The spill, caused by a leak in the Nun River-Kolo Creek pipeline operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), has led to severe water scarcity and heightened the risk of a cholera outbreak.
Goodnews Okoi, Chairman of the Obololi Community Development Committee, expressed deep frustration with the lack of prompt relief efforts. He highlighted that community members are forced to buy sachet water at inflated prices—now N50 per sachet and N800 per bag—since the polluted river is their only source of water. The spill has disrupted fishing activities, damaged farmlands, and affected the local ecosystem.
Although SPDC has reportedly shut the oil feeds into the leaking pipeline and promised to provide updates on relief efforts, residents feel abandoned. They noted that prior promises of repairs, such as fixing a borehole by the Local Government Chairman Target Segibo, have stalled due to equipment failure. Additionally, NOSDRA’s proposal to divert the river, intended to access the leak point, has raised concerns about further disrupting the essential transportation of goods and supplies.
Community leaders are calling for immediate action to address the crisis, emphasizing that the human and economic impact of the spill must be prioritized over bureaucratic procedures.
