A fresh explosion has rocked an oil facility in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State, raising renewed concerns over the safety and security of critical oil infrastructure in the region.
The blast, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning at a Manifold Connecting federal line in the Okwawriwa area of ONELGA, sent massive flames and thick plumes of smoke into the sky. Eyewitnesses reported that the explosion happened at a facility responsible for transporting petroleum products from Seplat, Agip, and Shell, serving ONELGA and parts of Imo State, en route to Brass in Bayelsa State.
While the affected facility is situated at a considerable distance from residential areas, thereby minimizing the risk of civilian casualties, the magnitude of the fire and the potential environmental impact have triggered serious concerns. Emergency response teams, including firefighters and security operatives, have reportedly been mobilized to the scene to contain the inferno and assess the extent of the damage.
This latest incident comes barely 12 hours after a similar explosion occurred at the Trans-Niger Pipeline, operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). The Trans-Niger Pipeline, which serves as a key crude oil transportation route to the Bonny Terminal, has been a frequent target of pipeline vandalism and suspected sabotage in the past.
The proximity of the two explosions within a short timeframe has sparked speculation about possible coordinated attacks on oil infrastructure in the region. Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on whether sabotage or technical failure was responsible for the twin incidents. However, industry experts and security analysts are calling for an urgent investigation to determine the cause and prevent further occurrences.
The Niger Delta region, home to Nigeria’s vast oil reserves, has long grappled with issues of pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering, and militant activities. While government amnesty programs and increased security measures have somewhat reduced large-scale attacks in recent years, incidents such as these raise fresh concerns about the vulnerability of Nigeria’s oil assets.
Stakeholders in the oil sector have called for improved surveillance and reinforced security along critical oil infrastructure to curb recurrent explosions and prevent potential disruptions to oil production and supply.
More details are expected as investigations continue.
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