A gas pipeline operated by the Nigeria Agip Oil has been reportedly hit by an explosion at Obagi Community, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. It was gathered that the explosion happened on Wednesday evening and that it has impacted the environment. This was coming in less than a month after another explosion had had occurred in Omoku and claimed 19 lives. It was gathered that since after the incident that Joint Investigation Visit has not been conducted.
The Chairman of the Local Government, Mr. Vincent Job, who confirmed the incident noted that no life was lost in the incident. Job said from available information that the explosion was as a result of equipment failure, although no official report from Agencies of government has been made public on this. He said “Yes, it happened at Obagi but thankfully no life was lost. I’ve gone there myself and during my interaction with the indigenes they feel it’s as a result of equipment failure, though oil and gas experts may have something else to add. We had a very dastardly crude oil explosion at Omoku West. Yesterday too, we also had another one in a different location, that is Obagi. For us who are novices in the oil field, you will find out that some of this equipment has lasted for more than 30, or 40 years which calls for removal. You will find out that the locals are there and they suffer a lot of this degradation. The Federal Government and the International Oil Companies (IOCs) should ensure that their pipelines, and facilities are up to date.”
Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of the community, Eze Clinton Elemele said the pipeline has been having leakage since June, 2023 and has not been attended to by the company. Elemele said “the gas leak had been on since June of last year, we wrote to Agip and NLNG but after inspection, they both said the pipeline wasn’t theirs. Now it exploded and Agip have finally admitted that it’s their own.”
