The Rivers State House of Assembly has commenced an investigation into allegations that Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited failed to address oil spills that ravaged B-Dere community in Gokana Local Government Area.
The move followed a petition submitted to the House by the community through its Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Hamilton Odom & Co. The petition, signed by ESV Hamilton Odom, was presented on the floor of the Assembly by the Deputy Speaker.
Speaker Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule referred the matter to the House Committee on Public Complaints and Petitions, chaired by Hon. Dr. Enemi Alabo George, for further action.
According to the petition, an oil spill occurred on May 7, 2025, along the 24 Ogale-Bomu Pipeline that traverses B-Dere. A joint investigation by officials from the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), and representatives of the affected community reportedly identified equipment failure as the cause of the leak.
The petitioners said: “The spill had a devastating impact on the vegetation health leading to stress, defoliation and death. The toxic hydrocarbons in the oil also penetrated plant tissues, disrupting physiological functions and impairing water and nutrient intake. This resulted in stunted growth, plant mortality and hindered regeneration particularly affecting young plants and seedlings.”
They further stated: “The spill also contaminated underground water and disrupted economic activities such as farming leading to loss of income and livelihoods and causing psychological trauma and stress that can have long term effects on mental health and well-being of the people.”
The community alleged that despite the severe impact of the spill, the company had not carried out any cleanup or offered compensation to affected residents. “More worrisome is the indifference and silence of the company over all matters relating to spill after the initial meeting between the representatives of the company and the community to agree on a fair or adequate compensation sum ended in a deadlock,” the petitioners said.
They urged the House to hold Renaissance Africa Energy Limited accountable, emphasizing that the company should bear full responsibility for the spill since it resulted from equipment failure.
The petition called for an immediate assessment and payment of compensation for economic losses, livelihood damage, and environmental degradation, as well as a comprehensive cleanup, remediation, and restoration of affected lands and water sources.
Responding, the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Complaints and Petitions, Dr. Enemi Alabo George, assured that the committee would give the petition urgent consideration.
