Gas Explosion Rocks Rivers Community

By - LagosCityReporters 20 January 2024 Comments (0) 2 Mins Read

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A gas pipeline explosion has occurred in the Obagi community of the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

It was gathered that the explosion occurred on Wednesday evening and no casualty was recorded in the sad incident.

In a chat to Channels Television on Saturday, Ogba Local Government Chairman, Vincent Job, confirmed the incident, adding that the pipeline belongs to the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

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.”

On his part, 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 have finally admitted that it’s their own.”