In the Obagi community of Rivers State’s Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, a gas pipeline owned by the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) has erupted, engulfing the nearby flora in flames.
Despite the incident occurring on a Wednesday evening, no casualties were reported.
This explosion follows closely after another incident in Omoku West, within the same LGA, where 19 lives were lost just a month prior. Vincent Job, the Local Government Chairman, verified the occurrence when speaking to reporters.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
This is coming after an explosion rocked Nigeria’s largest city Ibadan which resulted in several casualties and destruction of property.
