By Obiabin Onukwugha
An environmental body, Miideekor Environmental Development Initiative (MEDI), has called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to decommission 17 aging wellheads in OML 11, Ogoni, abandoned since 1993 to avert further oil spills.
Recall that an oil spill in one of the wellheads of the oilfield, which is situated in Yorla community, Khana Local Government Area, has resulted in fire outbreak which negatively impacted the environment and livelihoods of the community.
In a media briefing in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, MEDI team lead, Comrade Celestine Akpobari, said the call was in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on degradation.
Akpobari also called on the NNPCL, which is currently overseeing the OML11, to urgently extinguish the fire and initiate comprehensive clean-up and remediation efforts to restore the impacted environment.
He also urged the NNPCL to fence and secure the Yorla oil well to prevent further risk on Kpean community and the environment.
“Since August 3, 2025, an oil spill from Well 14, Yola, Kpean, has been contaminated farmlands and rivers, severely disrupting the livelihoods of local farmers and fisher-folks. On the evening of August 15, 2025, this crisis worsened with a fire outbreak at the site, posing immediate risks to lives, property and ecosystem.
“A joint investigation visit (JIV) conducted on August 13, 2025 and confirmed by the JIV report, identified the cause of operational negligence and equipment failure specifically, severe rust and corrosion of a wellhead abandoned since 1993.
“As the current overseer of OML 11, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company bears responsibility for addressing this crisis. MEDI firmly opposes the involvement of Sahara Energy or any proxy companies from resolving this matter.
“NNPCL must immediately decommission all 17 aging wells in Kpean, in line with UNEP recommendation. NNPCL must ensure fair and prompt compensation for affected farmers and fisher-folks, consistent with industry standards.
“NNPCL must urgently extinguish the fire and initiative comprehensive clean-up and remediation efforts to restore the affected environment. It must also fence and secure all 17 oil wells in Kpean to mitigate further risks to the community and environment,” he said.
