Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has said an oil spill has occurred at the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) loading terminal, SMI in Bonny, Rivers State.

Although the spill has reached the shoreline NIMASA said that it was actively monitoring the situation from an emergency operations centre.

It, however, noted that it was collaborating with SPDC and other relevant stakeholders to assess the extent of the spill and determine necessary follow-up actions.

The agency’s Head, Public Relations, Osagie Edward said in a statement that the incident happened on Saturday, December 14, 2024, from a ruptured pipeline, saying however that SPDC had promptly shut down the affected pipeline and deployed containment booms to protect the neighbouring communities.

Osagie said: “Members of the public are advised to remain calm as NIMASA is committed to mitigating the impact of the spill and restoring affected areas.”