Maureen Aguta
On Saturday, December 14, 2024, an oil spill occurred at the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) loading terminal, SMI, in Bonny, Rivers State.
According to a statement by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the incident resulted from a ruptured pipeline. It noted that SPDC has promptly shut down the affected pipeline and deployed containment booms to protect the neighboring communities.
The statement by the Head Public Relations, Edward Osagie, disclosed that although the spill has reached the shoreline, the NIMASA is actively monitoring the situation from an emergency operations center.
It added that the agency is collaborating with SPDC and other relevant stakeholders to assess the extent of the spill and determine necessary follow-up actions.
It further advised members of the public to remain calm as the agency is committed to mitigating the impact of the spill and restore affected areas.