A coalition of civil society organisations has launched a “No Clean-Up, No Vote” campaign over the persistent gas seepage threatening lives, livelihoods and the environment in Bille Kingdom, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The coalition, operating under the People’s Assembly and Bille Working Group, also called on the Federal Government to declare the crisis a national environmental, safety and public health emergency.
The groups made the demands while presenting a position paper titled “Justice for Bille: A Call for National Emergency That Cannot Wait” at the Social Action office in Port Harcourt.
They said the gas seepage, which began in February 2026, had reportedly been linked to 11 deaths, while exposing residents to fires, explosions and other dangers.
The coalition said the continuous release of gas from the ground and water sources had made routine activities, including cooking, hazardous, with an explosion reportedly occurring in the community during cooking.
It said the crisis had also destroyed property, disrupted livelihoods and posed serious risks to public health and the environment.
The groups demanded the immediate relocation of residents to safer areas, provision of potable water and healthcare, emergency funding for relevant regulatory agencies, identification and stoppage of the gas source, publication of environmental test results and compensation for affected families.
They also called for the establishment of a Presidential Task Force to coordinate the response, ensure environmental restoration and hold oil and gas operators accountable.
The coalition said its campaign would extend across the Niger Delta, insisting that political support would be tied to concrete commitments on environmental clean-up and restoration.
It said residents could no longer accept political promises without clear, realistic and time-bound action.
The groups also expressed hope that President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Rivers State would help bring national attention to the Bille crisis and trigger immediate government intervention.
