Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — A fresh fire explosion has rocked a pipeline operated by the Nigeria LNG Limited, along Soku-Abua-Rumuji right of way near Soku field in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, raising fears of potential disruptions to gas supply from the facility.
SweetCrude Reports gathered that the blast, occurred around 9:15 pm on Saturday; as the affected pipeline is said to connect the Soku Gas Plant, operated by Renaissance buyers of SPDC, down to Abua/Odual Local Government Area.
While the cause of the explosion remains unclear, concerns are growing over its possible impact on gas exports and domestic gas production, particularly as NLNG is at the forefront of Nigeria’s energy transition from fossil fuels to cleaner alternatives.
Confirming the incident, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, YEAC-Nigeria, stated that its One Million Youth Volunteers Network of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters in the Niger Delta and Crude Oil Spill Alert System Network received early reports of the explosion.
YEAC-Nigeria’s Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, said that the organization confirmed the explosion through its youth volunteers network in the area.
“An explosion accompanied by fireballs was heard and seen in the sky from the pipeline area, which is difficult to access. The fire is still ongoing as of the time of this report, as shown in short videos shared with us by our youth volunteers,” Fyneface said.
The NGO, however, noted that the cause of the explosion remains uncertain, stating that it could be linked to “equipment failure, sabotage, or an attack on the facility.”
The pipeline explosion marks the third incident on oil and gas facilities in Rivers State within a week, following similar occurrences in Kpor, Ogoni and Obrikom in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
It would be recalled that in a nationwide broadcast on March 18, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cited these security concerns while declaring a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State. The President also suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the Rivers State House of Assembly members, appointing Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.) as Sole Administrator.
The President had blamed Governor Fubara for failing to prevent attacks on oil infrastructure, referencing a viral video where some youths had allegedly threatened to attack oil facilities if an impeachment attempt was made against the governor.
YEAC-Nigeria has now called on relevant authorities to urgently investigate the explosion, urging the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit, JIV, to ascertain the cause of the incident.
“We call on NOSDRA to lead an independent investigation into the latest explosion at Soku, determine its cause, and hold perpetrators accountable in line with the Petroleum Industry Act 2021,” Fyneface stated.
As of the time of this report, Eni, NNPC, Shell Nigeria, Renaissance Group, TotalEnergies, and NLNG—all key stakeholders in the Soku Oil and Gas Field—are yet to issue any official statements or respond to inquiries on the matter.
Meanwhile, industry experts have warn that the explosion could negatively impact gas supply to NLNG’s liquefaction plant on Bonny Island, potentially affecting both domestic and international gas commitments.
