A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has launched a “No Clean-Up, No Vote” campaign, demanding urgent Federal Government intervention over persistent gas seepage in Bille Kingdom, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, which has reportedly claimed eleven lives since February 2026. The coalition made the demand in Port Harcourt while presenting a position paper titled “Justice for Bille: A Call for National Emergency That Cannot Wait,” at the Social Action office.
CSOs Demand Emergency Declaration
The coalition, under the People’s Assembly and Bille Working Group, called for Bille to be declared a national environmental, safety and public health emergency.
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Speaking at the event, representatives of the participating organisations highlighted the impact of the gas eruption on human lives, the environment, public health and residents’ livelihoods.
Those who addressed the gathering included Dr. Emem Okon, Executive Director of Kebetkache Women Development Centre; Kentebe Ebiaridor, Programme Manager of Environmental Rights Action and Coordinator of Oilwatch International; Dr. Prince Ekpere, Programme Manager of Social Action; and Dr. Bieye Briggs, Executive Director of the Community Environmental Protection and Health Foundation.
They explained that gas escaping from the ground and water sources had made everyday activities, particularly cooking, increasingly dangerous for residents.
The representatives recounted an explosion linked to cooking in the community, alongside reported losses of lives and property and the destruction of residents’ sources of livelihood.
Coalition Outlines Demands
To address the crisis, the organisations called for the immediate relocation of residents to safer environments, provision of clean drinking water and healthcare, and emergency funding for relevant regulatory agencies.
They also demanded the identification and stoppage of the gas source, publication of environmental test results and compensation for affected families.
The coalition further proposed the establishment of a Presidential Task Force to coordinate efforts towards resolving the crisis and ensuring that oil and gas operators are held accountable.
Campaign Targets Political Leaders
The coalition said the “No Clean-Up, No Vote” campaign would be extended across the Niger Delta to demand environmental justice and accountability from political leaders.
It maintained that its support for political parties and candidates would depend on their willingness to present clear, realistic and time-bound plans for environmental clean-up and restoration across the region.
The groups also expressed hope that President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Rivers State would provide an opportunity to draw national attention to the plight of Bille residents and secure action on their demands.
The coalition insisted that residents should no longer accept political promises without concrete commitments to addressing environmental challenges in the Niger Delta.
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