The House of Representatives Committee on the South South Development Commission on Thursday berated the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) over what lawmakers described as their slow response to the prolonged gas seepage in Billy Community, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, saying residents have been exposed to an environmental and public health emergency for nearly eight months.
At an investigative hearing in Abuja, members of the committee demanded explanations from officials of both agencies over the lingering incident, which community members say has polluted the air, contaminated water sources, disrupted economic activities and exposed residents to serious health and safety risks.
The investigation followed mounting concerns over reports that gas has continued to escape from the ground in the riverine community since late 2025. Residents have alleged that the emissions have rendered boreholes unsafe, crippled fishing and farming, the mainstay of the local economy, and forced families to live in fear of possible explosions and long-term health consequences.
Lawmakers also expressed disappointment over the absence of critical stakeholders at the hearing, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL), the Rivers State Government, the state’s Ministries of Environment and Health, and the chairman of Degema Local Government Area.
They argued that the failure of those organisations and officials to honour the invitation deprived the committee of vital information on emergency response measures, remediation efforts and support provided to affected residents.
While declaring the hearing open, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Julius Pondi, said that the exercise was in line with the House’s oversight powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
According to him, the objective was to establish the facts surrounding the gas seepage, evaluate the actions taken by regulators and industry operators, and assess the environmental, health and socio-economic consequences of the incident.
“The committee considered it necessary to invite all relevant stakeholders because of the grave environmental, public health, socio-economic and ecological implications of the incident for the people of Billy Community and the wider South South region,” Pondi said.
He observed that Billy Community relies heavily on fishing, farming and other natural resource-based livelihoods, making the impact of the incident especially devastating.
According to him, “as representatives of the Nigerian people, we have a duty to ensure that operators in the oil and gas industry conduct their activities in accordance with extant laws, government regulations and international best practices, while ensuring that host communities are adequately protected from avoidable environmental and safety hazards.”
Hon. Pondi said that the investigation would seek to establish both the immediate and underlying causes of the incident, examine the adequacy of emergency interventions, evaluate remediation efforts and determine the wider socio-economic effects on the community.
According to him, “I wish to emphasise that this committee approaches this engagement with an open mind. Our objective is neither to prejudge any individual or institution nor apportion blame without due process. Rather, we seek to establish the facts, identify operational or regulatory shortcomings where they exist, and make practical recommendations that will strengthen environmental governance and improve regulatory oversight.”
The hearing became heated when lawmakers pressed NOSDRA officials on why the incident, first reported in October 2025, remained unresolved months later.
Speaking for the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NOSDRA, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, Mr Cytrus Nkangwung said the agency formally received notification of the incident on November 25, 2025, after initial reports of gas bubbling emerged earlier in October, and immediately commenced investigations with relevant stakeholders.
He explained that the incident differed from conventional oil spills because the gas was escaping naturally from the ground and surrounding water bodies rather than from any known petroleum installation.
Responding to questions from lawmakers, the agency’s zonal head, Mr Augustine Bello, said:
“This incident is not the regular incident that attracts reporting. It is not a leak from any facility. It is gas bubbling that enveloped the community. When we became aware of it, we reached out to stakeholders within the community. It is different from a conventional oil spill.”
His explanation failed to convince members of the committee.
Chairman of the House Committee on Host Communities, Hon. Dumnamene Robinson Dekor, criticised the regulators for failing to determine the cause of the incident several months after it began.
“I feel sad sitting here listening to what you are telling us today. Gas bubbling from the ground, and after all these months, you are still telling us you do not know the cause,” he said.
“Today is a black day in the history of Nigeria that people’s lives could be on the line for this number of months and nothing has been done about it. You sit here suggesting to us that you do not even know what is responsible for it.
“It is a huge shame that people’s lives are at risk. Do you know how many people have died? Their livelihoods have been destroyed, yet nobody seems to care.”
The lawmakers also sought explanations for the apparent lack of emergency relief for the affected community.
“What happened to the people of Billy?” Pondi asked, questioning why residents had continued to breathe polluted air and rely on contaminated water while investigations dragged on.
Dekor also condemned the absence of major industry operators at the hearing and urged the committee to compel them to appear before lawmakers.
“I want to suggest that we compel all these agencies to appear before this committee. Something must be done. People should not die simply because they live in oil-producing communities.”
Members further questioned why NOSDRA requested a N3.4 billion presidential intervention fund despite investigations still being underway.
Bello explained that the proposed funding was intended to finance emergency containment measures, environmental assessments and humanitarian interventions pending the outcome of comprehensive investigations.
Responding to the concerns raised by lawmakers, NUPRC maintained that investigations carried out so far had not established any connection between the gas seepage and existing oil and gas facilities.
Leading the commission’s delegation, Director of Development and Production, Joseph Olawole Ogunsola, said preliminary scientific findings suggested that the gas was naturally migrating from deep underground formations through boreholes and groundwater pathways.
“The result of our evaluation indicates that there is no relationship between any pipeline or facility and the character of the gas seepage. Scientific evidence available to us presently points to a subsurface occurrence rather than a failure of surface infrastructure,” he said.
Ogunsola admitted that the community had suffered significant environmental damage, loss of livelihoods and health concerns.
“Billy Community is severely affected. The water is contaminated, there are reports of air pollution and there are safety concerns,” he stated.
He said the commission had adopted a dual approach involving scientific investigations and humanitarian support.
According to him, relief materials had already been delivered through an industry-backed intervention, while arrangements were being concluded for a medical outreach programme and the supply of potable water to residents.
“The Commission Chief Executive mobilised the industry because no operator has been found culpable. Nevertheless, we agreed that the industry must rally round and support the people of Billy while investigations continue.
“There is also a planned medical outreach in the next two weeks, while hydrological studies are ongoing to determine how best to provide uncontaminated potable water to the community.”
On the possibility of relocating residents, Ogunsola said the commission had advised relevant authorities to consider a managed evacuation based on the outcome of health and risk assessments.
“We cannot today determine the full extent of the impact of this seepage. Laboratory analysis shows there are gases that should not ordinarily be inhaled. Government should therefore consider managed evacuation of the affected residents following an appropriate health and risk assessment.”
Lawmakers maintained that allowing the incident to persist for months exposed significant weaknesses in Nigeria’s environmental regulatory system and warned that further delays in addressing the crisis would be unacceptable.
First reported in late 2025, the Billy gas seepage has emerged as one of the country’s most unusual environmental incidents. Unlike conventional oil spills caused by damaged pipelines or petroleum facilities, preliminary scientific investigations indicate that the emissions may be naturally migrating from deep underground formations.
The committee directed all absent government agencies and industry operators to appear before it at a subsequent hearing, insisting that uncertainty over the source of the seepage must not delay urgent action to protect residents, provide humanitarian support and strengthen public confidence in environmental regulation.