Over 125,000 Barrels Of Crude Oil Spilled In Niger Delta Since 2022, Report Reveals

Over 125,000 Barrels of Crude Oil Spilled in Niger Delta Since 2022, Report Reveals More than 125,000 barrels of crude oil have been spilled across Nigeria’s Niger Delta since 2022, worsening environmental degradation and threatening the livelihoods of millions of people in the oil-producing region, according to new data.

The report, based on records from the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency NOSDRA, shows that multinational oil companies, including Shell, ExxonMobil, Agip and other operators, recorded a combined 4,339 oil spill incidents between 2022 and the first half of 2026. The incidents have been attributed to a combination of sabotage, oil theft, ageing infrastructure and equipment failures. The cumulative volume of crude oil released during the period exceeded 125,000 barrels equivalent to nearly 20 million litres of oil raising fresh concerns over the long-term impact of pollution on farmland, rivers, mangrove forests and fishing communities across the Niger Delta. Environmental experts warn that spills of such magnitude can contaminate vast areas of land and water, with ecological damage that may take years or even decades to reverse.According to the data, 2022 recorded the highest volume of spilled crude, with 1,124 incidents releasing about 50,600 barrels of oil, accounting for roughly 40 per cent of the total volume recorded during the review period. In contrast, 2023 had the highest number of spill incidents—1,442—but a lower spill volume of about 20,224 barrels, indicating that many of the incidents were relatively small. The figures further showed that 2024 witnessed 1,170 spill incidents involving approximately 31,578 barrels of crude, while 2025 recorded a significant decline to 463 incidents and about 16,482 barrels. In the first half of 2026 alone, 140 incidents had already resulted in more than 7,100 barrels of crude being discharged into the environment.The report also identified Eroton Exploration and Production Limited as the operator responsible for the single largest spill volume during the period. Although the company reported only 14 spill incidents in 2022, those incidents accounted for more than 36,500 barrels of spilled crude, making it the biggest contributor to oil pollution that year. Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) also remained among the operators with consistently high spill records. The company reported 384 spill incidents in 2022 and 632 incidents in 2023—the highest number recorded by any operator during the review period. Although SPDC’s number of incidents fell in 2024, the total volume of oil spilled increased significantly, making it the largest polluter by volume that year. Environmental advocates have renewed calls for stronger regulatory oversight, improved maintenance of oil infrastructure and accelerated clean-up efforts, warning that continued pollution is endangering public health, biodiversity and the economic survival of communities that depend on farming and fishing. The findings come amid growing concerns over the effectiveness of measures introduced by the Federal Government to curb pipeline vandalism and protect oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta, despite billions of naira invested in security and surveillance.