A Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) has identified operational failure as the cause of a fresh crude oil spill at the Nembe Creek oilfield in Bayelsa State, with more than 20 fishing settlements and communities reportedly affected by the pollution.
The incident occurred on Saturday, August 22, 2026, during crude oil loading operations at the facility in Nembe Local Government Area, according to residents and information from the investigation.
The spill reportedly happened while crude was being transferred from a manifold into a loading barge. The manifold tilted during the operation, allowing crude oil to discharge into the surrounding river and spread through adjoining waterways.
Although the JIV has established operational failure as the cause, the precise volume of crude released and the full extent of the affected area have yet to be determined.
The development has renewed concerns over the environmental and economic consequences of oil production and transportation activities in the Niger Delta, where fishing communities remain heavily dependent on rivers, creeks and mangrove ecosystems for their livelihoods.
Oil Spreads Across Fishing Communities
Residents said crude oil has spread across fishing settlements, mangrove swamps, rivers and creeks around the Nembe Creek oilfield, contaminating areas used for fishing and other livelihood activities.
Communities affected include a number of fishing settlements around the Nembe Creek area, with residents reporting damage to aquatic resources and fishing activities.
Joshua Robert Oruge, a resident of Robertkiri, said the pollution had affected fish species, oysters, crayfish and periwinkles that provide both food and income for people living in the area.
For communities whose economies depend largely on fishing, the impact goes beyond the visible spread of crude oil. A contaminated creek can mean lost fishing days, damaged equipment, reduced catches and lower household income.
The situation also raises broader questions about the environmental cost of Nigeria’s continued dependence on petroleum production. The Bureau Journal has previously examined the government’s plans to attract fresh investment into the country’s oil and gas industry, including the potential $50 billion deep offshore investment programme.
Residents Demand Cleanup and Compensation
Residents of the affected communities have appealed to the Bayelsa State Government, the Federal Government and relevant regulatory agencies to intervene urgently.
They want the affected areas properly assessed, cleaned up and remediated, while also calling for assistance for residents whose livelihoods have been disrupted.
Chief Agent Anthony Waya, the paramount ruler of Nembe Creek communities, said residents had continued to bear the consequences of repeated oil spills in the area.
He expressed concern about the recurrence of pollution around the facility and called for a stronger response to the concerns being raised by host communities.
The Women Leader of Nembe Creek communities, Ebi Otokolo, and another resident, Biodomoye Kamre, also raised concerns about the persistent smell of crude oil in the affected areas.
They said residents were worried about the consequences of the pollution and the loss of their primary sources of livelihood.
ECARD Calls for Comprehensive Remediation
Environmental watchdog Environmental Conservation Agriculture and Rural Development (ECARD) has called for a comprehensive cleanup and remediation programme covering the affected communities and waterways.
Chief Alagoa Morris, the organisation’s Chief Operating Officer, said authorities and the operating company should also provide relief materials and compensation to residents who have suffered losses as a result of the pollution.
The call is significant because the environmental consequences of an oil spill can extend beyond the period during which crude remains visible on the surface. Mangroves, aquatic organisms and other components of the ecosystem can remain exposed even after the most obvious signs of contamination have disappeared.
Earlier investigations into oil pollution in the Niger Delta have also shown how disputes over the causes and consequences of spills can complicate remediation and compensation. The history makes accurate investigation, transparent reporting and effective cleanup particularly important in the latest Nembe Creek incident.
Nembe Creek Has a Long History of Oil-Spill Concerns
The latest incident is not the first major oil spill associated with operations around the Nembe Creek oilfield.
The field is located within Oil Mining Lease 29 (OML 29), an important petroleum asset in the Niger Delta. The asset was previously operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company before being divested to Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company in 2015. The operating company is now known as Nembe Exploration and Production Limited.
The area has experienced major spills in the past, including the Santa Barbara OML 29 Well 1 incident in 2019 and another major spill in 2021.
The 2021 incident generated significant controversy over its cause, the scale of the environmental damage and the response to affected communities. That history means the latest spill is likely to attract renewed scrutiny from regulators, environmental organisations and host communities.
For Nigeria’s petroleum industry, the issue is particularly important at a time when the government is seeking to increase investment and production. The Bureau Journal recently examined what the country’s domestic refining and petroleum policy debate means for consumers and the wider economy.
Crude Loading Operations Under Scrutiny
Residents said several previous incidents around the facility had been associated with crude oil loading and transportation operations.
They are therefore calling for safer and more reliable methods of evacuating crude from the area, rather than relying on methods they believe expose waterways and fishing settlements to unnecessary risks.
The latest JIV finding that operational failure caused the spill places renewed attention on the integrity of equipment, loading procedures, maintenance standards and emergency-response systems at petroleum facilities.
That concern extends beyond Nembe Creek. As Nigeria seeks to expand its petroleum production and attract new investment, the ability to prevent operational failures and protect host communities will remain an important part of the industry’s long-term credibility.
The Bureau Journal has reported on the Federal Government’s effort to unlock new oil and gas investment through its deep offshore investment framework, highlighting the economic opportunities that could come with increased petroleum activity.
But increased production also brings a responsibility to ensure that environmental protection, community relations and operational safety keep pace with investment.
Company Yet to Respond
Nembe Exploration and Production Limited has yet to publicly issue a statement on the latest incident.
Efforts to obtain the company’s response were unsuccessful, with messages sent to the company reportedly unanswered.
The absence of a public response leaves several questions unanswered, including the quantity of crude discharged, the immediate containment measures taken, the number of communities affected and the proposed timeline for cleanup.
Those questions will become increasingly important as residents await the outcome of further assessments of the affected waterways.
Livelihoods Remain the Immediate Concern
For the residents of Nembe Creek and neighbouring fishing settlements, however, the most immediate issue is not the technical description of the spill.
It is whether they can return to the water.
Fishing provides food and income for many families in the area. When rivers and creeks are contaminated, the consequences are felt directly in household incomes and local food supplies.
The impact also comes at a difficult time for Nigerian households already dealing with rising costs. The Bureau Journal has previously reported on the wider energy-price pressures affecting Nigerians, including the sharp rise in cooking gas prices and its effect on households and businesses.
For communities whose economic survival depends on natural resources, environmental damage can compound those pressures.
What Happens Next?
The next stage should be a detailed assessment of the affected environment and the losses suffered by residents.
That assessment should establish the volume of crude released, the geographical spread of the contamination, the impact on aquatic life and fishing activities, and the areas requiring remediation.
Residents and environmental advocates are also likely to watch closely for the implementation of any cleanup programme and the outcome of discussions over compensation and relief.
The incident also reinforces the importance of environmental safeguards as Nigeria seeks to expand its petroleum industry. Investment in oil and gas can create jobs, generate government revenue and strengthen energy security, but the economic benefits are difficult to justify when host communities are left carrying the environmental costs.
That balance is particularly important as Nigeria works to diversify its economy and build stronger domestic productive capacity. The Bureau Journal’s recent coverage of global trade and Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen productive sectors underscores the wider economic importance of building industries that generate value without weakening the communities and environments that sustain them.
For Nembe Creek, the priority now is clear: establish the full extent of the damage, contain the pollution, restore the affected environment and ensure that residents whose livelihoods have been disrupted receive appropriate support.
The JIV has identified operational failure as the cause. The next test will be whether the authorities and the operating company can respond with the same level of urgency to the consequences.
The Bureau Journal will continue to monitor developments surrounding the Nembe Creek oil spill, including further findings on the volume of crude released, the environmental impact, cleanup efforts and the response of Nembe Exploration and Production Limited.
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