Explosion Hits Agip Facility in Rivers

A gas pipeline explosion was reported on Wednesday in the Obagi community within the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Fortunately, no casualties were reported from the incident involving a pipeline allegedly owned by the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

The local government chairman, Vincent Job, confirmed the incident to Channels Television on Saturday, stating that residents believed equipment failure might have been the cause of the explosion.

“Yes, it happened at Obagi, but thankfully, no life was lost. I’ve gone there myself, and during my interaction with the indigenous people, 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,” he stated.

Mr. Job, expressing concern over the deteriorating conditions faced by residents, implored both the federal government and the International Oil Companies (IOCs) to ensure that facilities are maintained and kept current.

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Also confirming the incident, the traditional ruler of the community, Eze Clinton 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 has finally admitted that it’s their own.”

The community members alleged that the oil company failed to carry out a thorough environmental impact assessment prior to the installation of a pipeline in their area.

Calls and messages seeking comments on the incident from the company’s spokesperson, Folu Olopade, went unanswered at the time of reporting.