In the most recent urgent action letter, the TRU Students’ Union wrote to Rt. Honourable Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) in Nigeria, urging a full and transparent investigation into the methane gas leaks affecting the community of Bille, the publication of all findings, and immediate action to stop the leaks and protect public health and the environment.
“Writing this letter reminds me that advocacy doesn’t stop at our campus,” said Payton Maffioli, TRUSU Indigenous Representative. “It’s about using our voices to stand with vulnerable communities facing harm and making sure they’re not dealing with it alone.”
Since October 2025, residents of Bille have reported exposure to dangerously high levels of methane gas, leading to serious health impacts, including illness among children. In December 2025, air quality testing recorded methane levels up to 10,000 times above normal at one site. Despite these alarming findings, there has been limited government action to stop the leaks, a lack of transparency in reporting results, and ongoing risks to air quality, drinking water, and agriculture in the community.
This situation reflects a broader issue of environmental injustice, where communities—often already vulnerable—face disproportionate exposure to environmental harm without adequate protection or accountability. Access to clean air, safe drinking water, and a healthy environment is recognized as a fundamental human right. When governments fail to act on known environmental hazards, it not only endangers lives but undermines these basic rights and global commitments to environmental protection.
“It’s frustrating to see communities left to deal with something so dangerous without clear answers or action,” said Maffioli. “People deserve to feel safe in their own homes, and that starts with governments being transparent and taking responsibility for protecting both people and the environment.”
We urged immediate action to address the methane gas leaks, publish all investigation findings, and work directly with the Bille community to resolve this ongoing crisis.
We await a response from Rt. Honourable Ekperikpe Ekpo on this urgent matter.
For more Information
The Amnesty Urgent Actions Program allows the Union to take action regarding international human rights injustices that matter to students. Click this link to see injustices we have addressed previously, and for further information about this issue or to see a copy of the letter, contact the Equity Coordinator below.