– Discharges toxic fumes
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — A gas explosion from a pipeline operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company and Oando Plc has rocked Omoku town in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, discharging toxic fumes into the atmosphere.
The incident which occurred since yesterday beside Grace Orphanage Home, off Egbada Road in Omoku main town, is believed to have been caused by equipment failure, as the pipelines were laid by NAOC in the since early 1960s.
Confirming the incident, the Egbema Voice of Freedom said the ruptured gas pipeline was yet to be clamped, as residents around the area were now at risk of fire explosion.
Leader of Egbema Voice of Freedom, Pastor Evaristus Ukaonu Nicholas, called on the management of Oando Plc to swiftly commence the replacement of all Agip facilities in ONELGA, citing obsolescence.
“The ruptured pipeline is yet to be clamped by Agip or Oando as we speak. Gas fumes is in the air.
The pipeline explosion was caused by corrosion, no casualty has been recorded so far but the pipeline is operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company.
“These pipelines are old; they were laid since the early 1960s when Agip came to ONELGA. Now that Oando Plc has acquired Agip, Oando should start thinking of replacing these obsolete pipelines with new ones, otherwise more explosions like these will be recorded.”
Similarly, a stakeholder in the area, Ambassador Bright Abali, has called on NAOC and Oando Plc, to swiftly fix the leaking pipeline before it sets Omoku city aflame.
According to him, NAOC refusal to replace and maintain their obsolete facilities has denied the youths of ONELGA the required employment, which such project would create for their host communities.
“Gas eruption is a regular occurrence along Agip pipelines, particularly inside the forest areas due to obsolete pipelines. The company has refused to change their old facilities used over decades.
“NAOC exploration impact has caused unquantifiable damages to the environment, health and general life of the people of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni LGA of Rivers State and these unfriendly exploration practices must stop.”
