By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Residents of Obagi community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State were thrown into pandemonium last week after a gas pipeline belonging to the Nigeria Agip Oil Company exploded.
It was gathered that no human casualty was recorded, but farmlands were allegedly destroyed, according to reports.
The last explosion, which reportedly occurred last Wednesday, happened barely a month after a similar incident allegedly claimed lives in Omoku West also in the same LGA.
Agip is yet to comment on the unfortunate incident, as no mention of the explosion on its website when Business Post visited on Monday morning of January 22, 2024.
Also, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has yet to react to the gas pipeline explosion.
However, the chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government, Mr Vincent Job, confirmed that, “Yes, it happened at Obagi but thankfully no life was lost.”
“I have 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, we also had another one in a different location, 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,” he told Channels Television over the weekend.
