Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has pledged swift and decisive action to address the gas leakage and environmental pollution devastating the Bille community in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, assuring residents that their grievances will not be ignored.
The governor gave the assurance on Monday, June 29, 2026, while receiving a delegation of peaceful protesters who marched to the Government House in Port Harcourt to draw attention to the ecological and public health crisis unfolding in Bille and other oil-bearing communities across the Niger Delta.
The delegation, comprising members of the Pilex Centre for Civic Education Initiative (PCCEI) and the Lekeh Development Foundation (LDF), presented a grim picture of life in Bille. Leader of the delegation and PCCEI Coordinator, Mr Courage Nsirimovu, told the governor that the gas leak had created a severe environmental and public health emergency.
Residents can no longer drink water, fish, or carry out legitimate livelihood activities due to the pollution, Nsirimovu explained. He stressed that Bille is not alone, as communities such as Rukpokwu, Ebubu, and Elelenwo are grappling with similar environmental degradation caused by oil and gas operations.
The delegation demanded the immediate relocation of Bille residents from the polluted environment and called for total transparency regarding the application of remediation funds under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Governor Fubara, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr Honour Sirawoo, assured the protesters that their concerns would receive immediate attention.
He commended the demonstrators for maintaining peace and order despite the severity of the environmental crisis and the economic hardship it has imposed. "Let me commend this delegation for toeing the path of peace. Of course, from what you listed here, it was enough for you to start a violent demonstration because a situation where people can no longer drink water, they can't fish, they can't carry out some legitimate activities because of pollution, calls for serious action. But you chose the path of peace," Fubara said.
"Be assured that the Rivers State Government has a responsibility to protect the lives and property of our people, and this issue is not one that will be swept under the carpet," he declared.
The governor reiterated that safeguarding the environment remains a top priority of his administration, as preserving the ecosystem is essential to sustaining farming and fishing — the primary sources of livelihood for residents of the state's coastal communities.
The gas leak in Bille has been a persistent problem, with reports of gas bubbling from the earth, water, and residential wells since as early as October 2025. In May 2025, the community recorded a severe fire outbreak at one of the gas bubbling spots, triggering renewed calls for urgent federal intervention.
Civil society organisations and environmentalists have previously called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Bille Kingdom, citing a worsening environmental crisis. In April 2026, Governor Fubara had approved the sum of N100 million for Bille Kingdom as part of interim relief measures, including the provision of potable water and essential medical services.
Monday's protest and the governor's fresh commitment signal that the crisis remains unresolved and requires sustained government attention. The governor's pledge of swift action now places the onus on his administration to translate words into tangible relief for the embattled community.
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