Nigeria: toxic gas leak threatens existence of Bille village in Niger Delta
The Nigerian federal government ordered an investigation by the National Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) several months ago in a community hosting Shell installations. Since October 2025 gas has been escaping to the surface in the village of Bille through ageing pipelines buried underground for decades, and according to Diri Tomitonwa, a leader of the Bille youth federation, more than half of the village's wells are affected by the pollution. Residents have left their homes because of the smell, and Diri says many of his neighbours cannot afford to buy packs of water sachets.
Why it matters: The case sets out the local environmental and public-health costs of hydrocarbon extraction in the Niger Delta, a recurring subject in the briefing's coverage of energy and resources.