The Youth Against Disaster Initiative (YADI) has urged environmental regulatory agencies and relevant government authorities to urgently investigate persistent gas bubbling reported in Bille community, Rivers State, over concerns about its potential impact on the environment, public health and residents’ livelihoods.
The organisation warned that the situation requires immediate scientific assessment to determine the source and extent of the reported gas emissions and establish any possible risks to aquatic life, water quality and fishing activities in the coastal community.
According to an official statement signed by YADI’s South-South Regional Coordinator, Erabanabari Love Theophilus, the organisation’s concerns followed a field visit to Bille, where she interacted with residents and community stakeholders to understand the environmental challenges confronting the area.
During the visit, the coordinator observed reported gas bubbling activities in the surrounding waters and received concerns from residents about the possible consequences for their safety, health and economic survival.
YADI noted that fishing, trading and other water-dependent activities remain central to the livelihoods of households in Bille, warning that environmental degradation could disrupt economic activities, threaten food security and deepen the vulnerability of residents.
The organisation expressed concern that the reported gas bubbling, particularly if associated with oil and gas infrastructure or operations, could have implications for aquatic ecosystems and public safety, stressing the need for scientific investigation rather than assumptions about its source or effects.
It called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to conduct investigations within their respective regulatory mandates.
The proposed assessment, according to YADI, should examine water and sediment quality, aquatic biodiversity, possible hydrocarbon contamination, the safety of fishing grounds and potential exposure of residents to hazardous substances.
It also called for the involvement of independent environmental experts, community representatives and other relevant stakeholders to ensure transparency, credible findings and public confidence in the investigation.
YADI urged oil and gas companies operating in the area to cooperate with regulatory authorities, provide relevant environmental information and support appropriate preventive and remedial measures if their operations are found to have contributed to the situation.
The organisation further advocated the establishment of stronger community-based environmental monitoring and early warning systems to enable residents to identify and report potential hazards, including unusual gas emissions, oil spills, water discolouration and fish mortality.
It stressed that government authorities must strengthen emergency preparedness and response mechanisms to ensure timely intervention whenever environmental hazards threaten vulnerable communities.
The organisation also emphasised the need to involve affected residents in decisions concerning their environment, insisting that access to environmental information, transparent communication and effective grievance mechanisms are essential to environmental justice and accountability.
YADI maintained that protecting the environment in coastal communities is inseparable from protecting lives and livelihoods, urging relevant authorities to move beyond reactive responses and prioritise preventive action, environmental monitoring and sustainable management of the Niger Delta’s natural resources.
It called for coordinated and evidence-based intervention to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported gas bubbling in Bille and ensure that residents are protected from any confirmed environmental and public health risks.
