THE OKRIKA BURNING WELLHEAD
Regulatory authorities should live up to their responsibilities For two years, a wellhead fire has been burning at Ofioma-Ama Alakiri, in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, upending livelihoods in
An uncontrolled wellhead fire has been burning at Ofioma-Ama Alakiri in Okrika, Rivers State, for the past two years, causing environmental devastation and endangering the health of local residents. This week, community members, including women and elders, protested the continuous discharge of toxic gases, describing the situation as "genocidal".
They raised concerns about health risks, safety, and environmental degradation, urging the NNPC, operator of Alakiri Well 9, to extinguish the fire. The Alakiri well is not an isolated case, as numerous oil-producing regions across Nigeria suffer from similar issues, including the Ororo 1 well, which has been burning for six years without any attempt to extinguish it.
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has remained silent on these environmental disasters. The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has called these sites "time bombs," emphasizing the compounding environmental harm caused by ongoing fires, oil pollution, gas flaring, and deforestation. Nnimmo Bassey, HOMEF's executive director, stated that protecting the Earth is a necessity for the health, economy, and security of every nation.
The Niger Delta, rich in oil, has long been plagued by environmental degradation, poor health, declining livelihoods, and inadequate public services. Annually, over 240,000 barrels of crude oil are spilled in the region, with 178 active gas flare points. Flames burn near homes, schools, rivers, and fishing communities, releasing dangerous chemicals and pollutants daily.
In a presentation for World Environment Day 2026, Ken Henshaw of 'We The People' lamented the health issues faced by oil community residents, including respiratory illnesses, skin conditions, eye problems, declining agricultural productivity, contaminated water sources, and destroyed local ecosystems. The Alakiri community's protest resulted in twelve deaths from toxic fumes, highlighting the ongoing danger.
Authorities are urged to address the persistent pollution in Alakiri wellhead gas leaks and other affected areas.
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