The Miideekor Environmental Development Initiative (MEDI), has implored the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), to immediately decommission 17 aging wellheads in the oil field that were abandoned since 1993 to avert further oil spills in the Niger Delta region.
The act was sequel to several oil spills and a recent fire outbreak in the Yola oil field in Ogoniland, Rivers State.
Briefing journalists in Port Harcourt, on Thursday, MEDI team lead, Comrade Celestine Akpobari,explained that the call was in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on degradation.
He tasked the NNPCL, which is currently overseeing the oil mining lease (OML) 11, to ensure prompt compensation for affected farmers and fisher-folks, in line with industry standards.
He further advised the firm to urgently extinguish the fire and initiate comprehensive clean-up and remediation efforts to restore the affected environment.
He urged the NNPCL to fence and secure the Yola oil well to mitigate further risks to Kpean community in Khana local government area of the state, where the oil field is located and the environment.
He noted that 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, he said the crisis worsened with a fire outbreak at the site, posing immediate risks to lives, property and ecosystem.
He added:”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.
“The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, specifically page 205, recommends the decommissioning of aging facilities across Ogoniland to prevent such disasters. Despite this, no significant action has been taken.
“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.”
