The House of Representatives has criticised the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) over their handling of the prolonged gas leak affecting Billy Community in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.
At an investigative hearing in Abuja, lawmakers described the incident as a major environmental and public health crisis that has persisted for nearly eight months without a lasting solution.
The lawmakers said the gas leak has contaminated water sources, polluted the air, disrupted fishing and farming activities, and exposed residents to serious health and safety risks.
The committee also faulted the absence of key stakeholders, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), NNPC Exploration and Production Limited, the Rivers State Government, relevant state ministries and the Degema Local Government Council, saying their absence delayed efforts to determine the cause of the incident and review emergency response measures.
Chairman of the House Committee on the South South Development Commission, Julius Pondi, said the investigation aims to establish the cause of the gas leak, assess the response of regulators and operators, and evaluate its environmental, health and economic impact on the affected community.
He said the National Assembly has a duty to ensure that oil and gas operators comply with environmental regulations and protect host communities from avoidable hazards.
NOSDRA officials told lawmakers that the agency received formal notification of the incident in November 2025, explaining that the gas appears to be naturally seeping from underground through water sources rather than leaking from an oil or gas facility.
The explanation failed to satisfy lawmakers, who questioned why authorities have been unable to determine the exact cause after several months of investigations.
Chairman of the House Committee on Host Communities, Robinson Dekor, described the situation as unacceptable, saying residents have continued to face health and safety risks while regulators remain without clear answers.
Lawmakers also criticised the lack of emergency support for affected residents and questioned NOSDRA’s request for a N3.4 billion presidential intervention fund.
Responding, NOSDRA said the proposed funding would be used for emergency containment measures, environmental assessments and humanitarian assistance while investigations continue.
NUPRC maintained that there is no evidence linking the gas leak to existing oil and gas infrastructure. The commission said preliminary scientific findings indicate that the gas is naturally migrating from deep underground formations through groundwater pathways.
NUPRC Director of Development and Production, Joseph Ogunsola, acknowledged the severe impact on Billy Community and disclosed that relief materials had already been provided through an industry-supported initiative. He added that a medical outreach and the supply of safe drinking water would begin within two weeks.
Ogunsola also said the commission had advised authorities to consider relocating residents if health and safety assessments show that evacuation is necessary.
Despite the explanations, lawmakers insisted that the prolonged crisis exposed serious weaknesses in environmental regulation and emergency response. The committee directed all absent agencies and operators to appear at its next hearing and stressed that uncertainty over the source of the gas leak should not delay urgent intervention for affected residents.
