Urgent Call for Emergency in Rivers State Over Pollution

Civil society organizations and environmentalists are calling on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Bill Kingdom, Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State, due to a worsening environmental crisis. Isaac Osuoka, Executive Director of Social Action, reported that residents have been facing severe water contamination for six months, with gas bubbling beneath the earth and polluted water sources affecting their livelihoods.

Despite repeated appeals for intervention, the government has not taken concrete action. Protests have erupted, with residents displaying placards highlighting the loss of mangroves, farming, and fishing opportunities.

Ann Kio Brigg, a prominent Niger Delta activist, expressed concerns over potential fire outbreaks due to the ongoing gas seepage. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission have been criticized for their inaction.

Residents demand immediate government action to address the environmental emergency and protect their lives.