The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has screened 28 oil and gas wells around reported gas seepage locations in Bille Community, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, identifying three as high-risk, as investigations continue to establish the source of the bubbling gas.

The Commission disclosed that its investigation team physically visited 14 of the 28 wells screened but could not access three others because they were submerged. During the visits, the team observed gas hissing from some wells, while some facilities were found to be corroded and others vandalised.

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The update was made on Thursday during a special technical paper presentation at the 44th Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE).

The paper, titled “Unravelling Gas Seepage and Bubbling in Nigeria: The Integrated Study Approach Towards Source Attribution,” was hosted by the NUPRC.

In his presentation, the Director of Subsurface Development at the NUPRC, Engr. Joseph Ogunsola, FNSE, described gas seepage as a new phenomenon in the Nigerian petroleum industry, prompting the Commission to constitute a team to investigate what lies beneath the bubbles.

Ogunsola was represented by the Senior Manager, Onshore Frontier Development Drilling, Mr. Azibamikiomam John-Adumo, a geologist.

He disclosed that studies conducted in one of the affected areas had helped unravel the structural threat associated with the phenomenon.

According to him, one of the wells was originally drilled in search of oil but was shut down following the discovery of gas instead.

He explained that the well is approximately 2.5 kilometres from the seepage location, adding that investigations are ongoing to establish whether the seepage originates from that particular well or other nearby wells.

He further disclosed that the distance between the seepage location and other wells ranges from 2.5 to three kilometres, noting that the area is highly explored and hydrocarbon-charged, as demonstrated by the number of wells in the vicinity.

Providing an update on the wells workstream, which falls under the facility and infrastructure component of the investigation, John-Adumo said the 28 wells were screened based on their proximity to the seepage locations and the reservoirs traversed during drilling.

He also explained that the investigation had progressed from the first reported bubble to an independent fingerprinting campaign within 12 months.

Recalling that the first seepage was observed in October 2025, he said the results of the independent investigation, using Gas Chromatography-Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (GC-IRMS) and compositional field analysis, were expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.

While investigations continue, John-Adumo said the Commission and operators had mobilised relief materials and other support for affected communities.

The interventions include food supplies, medical outreach, efforts to provide potable water, fire vans and safety kits, among other assistance.

He, however, warned that if the seepage is established to be a natural geological phenomenon, residents may need to be evacuated because tracing the migration pathways and designing subsurface interventions could be much more challenging.

He reiterated the Commission’s commitment to a speedy, coordinated and integrated investigation to establish the source of the gas seepage.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has charged newly promoted Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) to demonstrate effective leadership, integrity and accountability in the discharge of their duties.

Disu gave the charge on Thursday, November 12, 2026, while declaring open an executive training programme on Advanced Command, Strategic Leadership and Policing Governance for the newly promoted senior officers at the National Institute of Police Studies (NIPS), Abuja.

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The statement was signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anthony Placid, on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force, and dated November 13, 2026.

The programme is designed to strengthen strategic leadership, improve command effectiveness and equip the officers with the knowledge required to address emerging security challenges.

Congratulating the officers on their promotions, the IGP reminded them that higher ranks come with greater responsibilities and accountability.

He urged them to anticipate security threats, manage available resources effectively and make sound decisions guided by professionalism, the rule of law and the public interest.

Disu identified integrity, personnel development and public trust as critical pillars of effective police leadership, warning against corruption, abuse of office and indiscipline.

He also emphasised the importance of mentorship and personnel welfare, noting that the quality of officers developed under a leader is an important measure of leadership success.

According to him, leadership is measured not only by achievements in office but also by the quality of officers developed and left behind.

The police chief further urged the participants to earn public confidence through fairness, respect for human rights and responsive service delivery.

He encouraged them to participate actively in the training and apply the knowledge gained to improve command performance and public safety.

In his address, the Director-General of the National Institute of Police Studies, Professor Olu Ogunsakin, said senior police command required a broader understanding of security patterns and organisational challenges.

Ogunsakin explained that the training would combine practical scenarios, dialogue and strategic thinking to sharpen the officers’ judgement and prepare them for the demands of senior leadership.

He urged the participants to lead with courage, humanity and confidence while applying the lessons from the programme to their respective commands.

The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to continuous professional development, accountable leadership and personnel welfare as essential foundations for effective and people-oriented policing.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Calabar, Cross River State, ahead of the presidential groundbreaking ceremony for the multibillion-dollar Bakassi Deep Seaport Project.

Shettima’s arrival was disclosed on Friday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President).

The Vice President arrived at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, where he was received by Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Otu, members of the State House of Assembly, the State Executive Council and other senior government officials.

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The groundbreaking ceremony represents a major step towards fulfilling President Bola Tinubu’s promise to the people of Cross River State to advance the developmejnt of the proposed seaport.

The multibillion-dollar project, structured as a federal-state public-private partnership (PPP), is designed to accommodate large ocean-going vessels, strengthen agricultural exports and provide a strategic maritime gateway linking Nigeria’s South-South and northern markets with neighbouring countries and international trade routes.

Beyond its maritime significance, the seaport is expected to stimulate industrial activities, create employment opportunities, reduce logistics bottlenecks and unlock the commercial potential of Cross River State and the wider Gulf of Guinea..

The facility is also expected to strengthen agricultural production and exports by improving access to international markets, while creating investment opportunities and supporting economic activities across the region.

The project aligns with one of the central ambitions of the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, which seek to move Nigeria from an economy constrained by inadequate infrastructure towards one driven by production, exports, investment and competitive trade.

In the announcement, Nkwocha highlighted the administration’s infrastructure development agenda, declaring: “One more promise made, one more fulfilled!”

He further emphasised the government’s commitment to ensuring that infrastructure development reaches every part of the country, stating that “no community, no zone, no state” should be left behind in President Tinubu’s development agenda.