With troubling environmental setback, Renaissance Africa Energy has confirmed a fresh oil spill at its facility in Rivers State, raising concerns about Nigeria’s Niger Delta ecosystem. The incident, reported on May 17, 2025, in Port Harcourt, has prompted swift response measures amid growing scrutiny of the oil industry’s environmental impact.
The spill, originating from a pipeline rupture in the OML 18 block, released 5,000 barrels of crude into the Okrika waterways, affecting 10 communities, per preliminary assessments. Renaissance, a subsidiary of ND Western, attributed the leak to equipment failure, ruling out sabotage, which accounts for 60% of Nigeria’s 200 annual spills, per 2024 NOSDRA data. The company deployed booms and skimmers, containing 70% of the spill by May 19, while engaging 500 local workers for cleanup. The incident follows a 2024 spill in the same block, which impacted 8,000 fishermen, costing ₦2 billion in damages, per community leaders.
Rivers State, producing 30% of Nigeria’s 1.3 million daily barrels, faces 400,000 hectares of polluted land, per a 2024 UNEP report. The spill threatens mangroves, vital to 60% of local fish species, and 20,000 residents face water contamination risks. The Ministry of Environment imposed a ₦500 million fine, citing Renaissance’s delayed 48-hour response, against NOSDRA’s 24-hour rule.
Activists demand a $10 million compensation fund, noting 80% of spill victims receive no aid, per a 2024 Niger Delta study. Renaissance pledged a $5 million restoration plan, but locals, with 70% unemployed, fear delays. The spill highlights Nigeria’s $10 billion annual cleanup cost, with only 15% of 2025’s ₦500 billion budget allocated, per NEITI data.