Nigeria: Rivers communities cry out as gas leak poisons Orashi river

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

For over a year, residents of Oshie and Akinima communities in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State have been battling the devastating effects of a gas leak from an Oando underwater pipeline. The leak has contaminated the Orashi River, their only source of water, leading to widespread health concerns and economic hardship.

According to 59-year-old Mrs. Ngozi Ididie, an indigene of Oshie, the situation has become dire. “We are really worried. After drinking the water, both children and adults feel sickly. This is our experience. We are resorting to buying sachet water now. Ordinarily, water from the river was blessed water which God gave us. But now we cannot drink it,” she lamented.

A recent visit to the riverside revealed a disturbing scene: pipes and excavated areas suggesting fresh pipeline work, old pipelines lying unburied, and the river bubbling continuously about 80 meters from the bank. A thin film of hydrocarbon floats on the surface, even as sacks of fermenting cassava sit half-submerged at the waterfront.

The Paramount Ruler of Oshie, His Royal Highness Patrick Miller, expressed frustration over prolonged neglect. “The gas leakage in the river has been there for over a year. We informed the Nigerian Agip Oil Company when they were in charge. And now Oando is on board. Nothing has been done. This gas has been bubbling, leaking into our water,” he said. He highlighted the hazards: contaminated drinking water, affected cassava processing, reduced fish catch, and health issues like gastroenteritis and skin rashes.

President of the Engenni Youth Assembly, Onem Okenya, accused Oando of ignoring the people’s plight. “Oando has feigned ignorance of what is happening here… They have not shown any commitment to ensuring this is stopped,” he said, calling it a potential “genocide” and warning of hydrocarbon pollution’s cancerous effects.

Women in the community, like Mrs. Queen Jacob, a mother of four, shared their struggles. “This river is where we bathe and fetch water to drink. We also soak our cassava in the river and catch fish. But due to the current leakage, we cannot catch fish, and when you bathe in the river, it leads to itching of the body,” she said.

Environmental advocates, including the Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) through Deputy Executive Director Alagoa Morris, called for urgent intervention. They urged Oando to provide clean water, healthcare, and compensation, and appealed to government agencies like the Nigerian National Petroleum Company and environmental ministries to act swiftly.

As the communities continue to live between thirst and fear, their cries for help remain unanswered by the operators of the facility, leaving thousands at risk of long-term health and environmental damage.