Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — A fire explosion at a pipeline operated by the Petroleum Products Marketing Company Limited, PPMC, in Ibuluya Community, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, has sparked panic among residents and schoolchildren in the area.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday at about 2:30 pm, took place near Okrika Grammar School, directly opposite the PPMC facility.
Eyewitnesses say leakage had been reported on the said pipeline for over a week, as the fire broke out while repairs were being carried out on the faulty pipeline.
PPMC, a subsidiary company of the NNPC Limited is responsible for the marketing and distribution of refined and imported petroleum products through a network of pipelines, storage depots and marine movement of petroleum products in the country.
A local resident identified as Moses, who witnessed the fire explosion, said the pipeline had been leaking for over two weeks before the fire.
He called on the government and relevant agencies to urgently replace aging pipelines in the area to prevent future disasters.
“These pipes are old, rusty, and obsolete. The leakages started when products were pumped into the line two weeks ago, forcing authorities to shut it down,” he explained.
He added that the fire broke out while welders contracted by PPMC were attempting to fix the leaking section.
“Yesterday, when the welders were trying to repair the pipeline, a fire suddenly erupted. The flames were very intense, but the fire service arrived quickly and managed to put it out,” Moses recounted.
Following the initial leakage, security operatives attached to PPMC had taken precautionary measures by restricting vehicle and motorcycle movements near the compromised section of the pipeline.
“They blocked off the area from vehicular access to prevent fire outbreak and were waiting for the pipeline owners to carry out repairs,” another resident said.
Despite their efforts, the fire outbreak has raised concerns about the safety of petroleum infrastructure in the community, especially given its proximity to the school.
As of the time of this report, PPMC and its parent company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, have yet to issue an official statement on the incident or provide details on containment efforts.
