Yenagoa, Nigeria – February 4, 2025 – An oil spill has been reported at Ogale, near Port Harcourt, after a saver pit overflowed during flushing operations, Shell Nigeria said on Tuesday. The spill occurred in the Niger Delta, an area long affected by environmental pollution linked to oil exploration.
Shell’s response team moved to contain the overflow and alerted authorities, the company said. A joint investigation led by regulators is being planned to determine the cause and extent of the spill.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), a local environmental group, said the incident was caused by an underground pit filled with crude that leaked into a pipeline connected to the Ogoni cleanup project.
The Niger Delta has suffered years of pollution from oil spills, damaging livelihoods and affecting health in local communities. Environmental groups continue to push for stricter oversight and accountability from oil companies operating in the region.
