Aiteo in the Eye of the Storm…as Okpoama Spill and Ikensi Underwater Pipeline Leak Spark Fresh Environmental Disaster in Nembe and Brass LGAs, by Famous Famous

An urgent environmental alert has been raised following the discovery early Thursday morning at approximately 6:45am of an ongoing underwater crude oil pipeline leakage near Ikensi Community, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, allegedly from the operations of Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Limited.

Community residents who first detected the leak report that crude oil is actively discharging into surrounding waterways with no visible containment or emergency response deployed at the time of reporting, raising immediate fears of widespread ecological contamination and threats to fishing-based livelihoods.

In the words of Chief Clarkson Obiakpa, a Chief of Opu Nembe Kingdom: “The spill was discovered early this morning around 6:45am. Crude oil is still flowing into our waterways. No response team has arrived. Our rivers, fishing grounds, and drinking sources are already being affected. We are deeply concerned about our survival and livelihood.”

Local stakeholders describe the incident as another severe blow to an already fragile ecosystem dependent on clean waterways for survival.

This latest incident comes shortly after a significant marine spill on the Atlantic coastline, affecting Okpoama, Diema and Twon-Brass in the neighbouring Brass Local Government Area, where crude oil reportedly escaped into surrounding waterways during a transshipment operation between a vessel and a tanker owned by Aiteo Eastern E & P Company Ltd, a company that has changed its name to Nembe Exploration and Production Company Ltd.

The Okpoama and Brass spill was reportedly triggered by a burst hose during crude transfer operations at sea, releasing large volumes of crude oil into the marine environment and affecting aquatic biodiversity and fishing livelihoods.

Stakeholders in Okpoama, including the Community Development Committee Chairman, Chief Edwin Otiete-Goli, have expressed deep concern over the environmental and economic damage caused.

According to Chief Edwin Otiete-Goli, “This spill has devastated our waters and our means of livelihood. Our fishing grounds are polluted, and our ecosystem is under serious threat. We call for immediate accountability, full remediation, and justice for our people who depend entirely on these waters for survival.”

Sources also reference an alleged prior operational commitment by the operator to transition from marine vessel transport to pipeline-based evacuation systems, a promise they say has not been fulfilled, thereby increasing environmental risk exposure.

The Ikensi and Okpoama incidents are the latest in a series of oil-related environmental events spanning several years across Nembe and Brass Kingdoms involving Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company which has since rebranded to Nembe Eastern & Exploration Company, raising sustained concern among host communities.

Since Aiteo assumed operatorship of OML 29 in 2015 following divestment by Shell Petroleum Development Company, the region has witnessed multiple spill incidents affecting both terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

The most significant remains the November 1, 2021 Santa Barbara Well 1 blowout, which discharged crude oil and gas uncontrollably for approximately 38 days, severely impacting surrounding communities. The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, previously described the incident as one of the worst environmental disasters in the Niger Delta, comparable only to the Gulf of Mexico spill.