CSOs ask Tinubu to declare emergency in Bille over gas eruption, 11 deaths

A coalition of civil society organisations don urge President Bola Tinubu to declare national environmental and public health emergency for Bille, one community for Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, where gas reportedly dey seep from ground and water for about one year.

The group, under the banner of The People's Assembly and the Bille Working Group, make the call for one press conference for Port Harcourt on Thursday. E say the eruptions don link to 11 deaths and say residents dey fall sick.

According to the coalition, gas don dey bubble from creeks, boreholes, hand-dug wells, school grounds and residential compounds since around October 2025. E say the crisis don cause repeated fires and explosions, while some residents don suffer vomiting and difficulty to breathe.

Dr Emem Okon, executive director of the Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre and co-convener of the Assembly, say the situation na looming humanitarian disaster. She say families no fit cook safely, drink their water or rely on fishing for living again.

"This na national emergency wey no fit wait," Okon talk.

The coalition say independent monitoring find unsafe levels of methane, hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide for the community, and dis one raise fears about wetin long exposure mean for residents' health.

Wetin the groups want

For one open letter to the President, the Senate President, the Ministers of Health and Environment and the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the groups ask for presidential task force to investigate and resolve the crisis.

Dem want make dem move residents temporarily to safer places, with shelters, clean drinking water, food and healthcare provided until dem confirm the area safe. Dem also want emergency funding for the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and make dem activate the regional Spill Command Centre.

The coalition say NOSDRA and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission don visit the area, but the source of the gas still unknown. E say NOSDRA acknowledge funding constraints for one meeting with its Director-General, Chief Chukwuemeka Woke, on October 17, 2026.

E demand make dem publish preliminary soil and water test results so residents go know wetin dey their environment. E also call for fingerprinting technology to trace the gas, audit of oil facilities for Oil Mining Leases 18 and 24, and temporary stop to oil and gas operations for the affected areas.

Dr Edegbuo of The People's Assembly say the Federal Government suppose move beyond investigations, warn say the situation fit become national security emergency. He say fixing Bille fit also guide responses for Uzere, Alakiri, Rumuekpe and Aleto.

Kentebe Ebiaridor of Oilwatch International call for stronger accountability, argue say current and former operators of the two leases suppose dey held jointly liable and make dem compensate residents. The coalition no name the operators.

The groups also launch "No Clean-Up, No Vote" campaign across the Niger Delta, say dem go back parties and candidates with credible, funded and time-bound plans to clean up polluted communities.