Abiante Warns Against Silence As Okrika Communities Suffer Alakiri Pollution

By Ken Asinobi Member of the House of Representatives and NDC Senatorial Candidate for Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Rep. Awaji-Inombek Dagomie Abiante, has raised alarm over the worsening environmental crisis in Ofioma-Ama, Alakiri, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State. Abiante, in a strongly worded statement, warned that residents can no longer be left to inhale toxic fumes while their waters, health and livelihoods are allegedly destroyed. The NDC Senate hopeful described the persistent gas leak and wellhead fire at Alakiri Oil Well 9 as a 'catastrophic event,' alleging that the failure to contain the incident was exposing women, children and elderly residents to serious health risks. He said the continued release of toxic hydrocarbons was threatening the lives of people in Ofioma-Ama and neighbouring Wakirike communities. The lawmaker said the predominantly riverine communities were also suffering severe economic losses, as fishing and marine commerce remain major sources of livelihood. According to him, the continuing leak and fire on the water surface had allegedly poisoned fishing grounds, destroyed nets and threatened the fragile aquatic ecosystem and mangrove forests of the Niger Delta. He called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and relevant operators and regulators to immediately mobilise emergency technical teams to extinguish the fire and plug the leak. He also demanded a transparent Joint Investigation Visit involving community representatives, environmental experts and civil society organisations to establish the cause and full extent of the damage. Beyond containment, Abiante demanded urgent medical assistance, clean drinking water and relief materials for affected residents, while invoking the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 to demand comprehensive environmental remediation, ecosystem restoration and adequate compensation for victims and the host community. He stressed that government has a primary responsibility to protect the lives and welfare of citizens, describing the alleged continued neglect of the Alakiri crisis as an unacceptable violation of the people's right to a safe and healthy environment. 'We will not remain silent while our communities suffer. We demand swift, accountable action today—not promises tomorrow,' Abiante declared.