NIMASA Confirms Oil Spill at Shell’s Bonny Loading Terminal

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has confirmed a fresh oil spill at the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) loading terminal in Bonny, Rivers State.

The agency in a statement said the incident resulted from a ruptured pipeline but did not disclose if it was due to the activities of vandals.

SPDC has promptly shut down the affected pipeline and deployed containment booms to protect the neighbouring communities.

“On Saturday, December 14, 2024, an oil spill occurred at the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) loading terminal, SMI, in Bonny, Rivers State.

“The incident resulted from a ruptured pipeline. SPDC has promptly shut down the affected pipeline and deployed containment booms to protect the neighbouring communities.

“Although the spill has reached the shoreline, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is actively monitoring the situation from an emergency operations centre. The agency is collaborating with SPDC and other relevant stakeholders to assess the extent of the spill and determine necessary follow-up actions.

“Members of the public are advised to remain calm as NIMASA is committed to mitigating the impact of the spill and restoring affected areas,” the statement read.

Oil spills have been a common feature over the last decades, particularly in the oil-rich Niger Delta region caused by a multitude of reasons including pipeline vandalism, weak infrastructure, operational failures, natural triggers, and illegal refining.

This has led to challenges for Niger Deltans particularly those engaged in farming and fishing as spills leave long-term effects that affect aquatic life, potable water, and soil fertility.