The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has attributed the recent oil spill in Kpean community, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, to sabotage.
Ribadu made this statement on Monday while heading a federal government delegation to evaluate the damage caused by the spill in Ogoniland.
The team included the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal; Minister of Works, David Umahi; and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bashir Bayo Ojulare, alongside other senior officials.
Speaking to journalists at the spill site, the NSA voiced concern over the persistent sabotage of crude oil infrastructure in Ogoniland, despite ongoing cleanup operations and federal investments in environmental remediation and livelihood restoration.
“The sad part of it is that this is sabotage,” Ribadu said. “It is a well that has not been in existence for over 30 years. Yet some people—enemies of the people—have deliberately damaged it in the process of stealing. The damage they are doing is incredible.”
He stated that the visit was personally directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and added that emergency response resources had already been deployed to contain the spill.
“What we have done today is to show concern. We are worried.
The spill has been stopped, and recovery is ongoing. Hopefully, it will not happen again,” he said.
Ribadu stressed that the federal government’s approach in Ogoniland remains community-focused, prioritizing continuous engagement to rebuild trust and enhance living conditions.
“From the beginning, our engagement with the Ogoni people has been community-led. We listen to them and put them in front,” he noted.
He added that the region’s longstanding environmental challenges are being tackled through coordinated initiatives, including the development of educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and other key infrastructure projects.
Ribadu urged residents to safeguard national assets, describing oil resources as collective wealth that must not be destroyed by a few individuals for personal gain.
