The Federal Government has ordered the immediate beefing up of security at all dormant oil wells in Ogoniland, Rivers State, to prevent interference and acts of sabotage.

The government also vowed to identify and prosecute those linked to the massive oil spill at the Yorla Oil Field in the Kpean community, Khana Local Government Area of the state.

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, disclosed this on Monday when he led a Federal Government delegation to assess the extent of devastation at the spill site in Kpean, Ogoniland.

Recall that a massive oil spill ravaged the oil field in September, destroying farmlands and vegetation in the area.

However, a civil society group, Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, led by its Executive Director, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene, had alleged that the spill was caused by equipment failure.

But Ribadu, during the visit, said the incident was a clear case of sabotage and appealed to residents to protect their wealth and that of the nation.

He said, “We have seen the devastation. It is extensive and terrible, and anyone who sees it will truly feel bad. It is unfortunate. Those in charge have done a good job in controlling it and stopping the spill.

“Now, the assessment of the damage and how to restore the area to minimise the impact is ongoing. The sad part is that this is sabotage. It is a well that has not been active for over 30 years.

“Enemies of the people, unfortunately, very selfish individuals, come to vandalise facilities in the hope of stealing crude. The damage they have caused is terrible. What we have done today is to show concern. We are worried. This visit is directly on the directive of Mr President.”

The NSA said assets had been mobilised to address the spill, which he confirmed had been stopped, adding that recovery efforts were ongoing.

He added, “Part of what we have done is to engage the Ogoni people. We put the communities first, listen to them and respond to their needs and demands, which the Federal Government is doing.

“Investigations are ongoing, and we will go after those responsible. Bringing perpetrators to justice is one of the most effective ways of tackling criminality. It will send a strong message that nobody will get away with this.”

Ribadu assured the people that security agencies had been directed to move into all inactive oil-producing areas in Ogoniland where there had been no operations for years to prevent future incidents.

He said the delegation also visited the Federal University of Environment and Technology, health centres and other facilities in the area as part of the engagement process.

The NSA commended the Rivers State Government for its efforts and praised President Bola Tinubu’s interventions, saying Ogoniland was witnessing a new phase of development after decades of environmental degradation.

“This wealth belongs to the community and to all of us. Let us protect it instead of allowing a few selfish individuals to destroy it,” he said.

On his part, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bashir Ojulari, said a Joint Investigation Visit had been conducted at the spill site, with a second visit currently underway.

He explained that the initial visit was carried out when pressure at the site was still high and conditions were unsafe, but the follow-up visit would allow for a more comprehensive assessment.

“The good news is that the Ogoni people have welcomed the NNPC and the teams under the leadership of the NSA to re-enter the area and begin work,” he said.

Ojulari added that the first step would be a full asset integrity assessment to determine the condition of facilities, secure vulnerable points, carry out remediation and fix the assets with the goal of achieving safe production in the future.

Similarly, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, described the spill as disturbing but confirmed that it had been stopped, noting that it occurred at a time when the well was inactive.

He said arrangements were being put in place, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser, to address all potential areas prone to similar spillages. (PUNCH)

Update news