Oil Pipeline Explosion: Niger Delta Group Attributes Incident to Alleged Sabotage, Urges FG, NNPCL to Resolve Surveillance Contract Disputes
A Niger Delta-based advocacy group, the Niger Delta Monitoring Group (NDMG), has attributed the recent oil pipeline explosion near Tebijor, Okpele and Ikpopo communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, to alleged sabotage linked to unresolved disputes over pipeline surveillance contracts.
The group alleged that the explosion was a fallout of the Federal Government’s and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPCL) indecision regarding the review and renewal of oil pipeline surveillance contracts in the Niger Delta.
In a statement issued on Friday and made available to journalists via email, the group’s spokesperson, Commander Oritse Tuoyo, said tensions among pipeline surveillance contractors in the region may have triggered the incident.
According to the statement, the explosion has sparked widespread concern and raised serious questions about the motives behind what the group described as “destructive actions.”
“Preliminary investigations suggest that the explosion may be linked to pipeline surveillance contractors attempting to pressure the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and the Federal Government into reviewing or renewing their contracts,” the group stated.
The NDMG further alleged that reports available to it indicate that some high-profile security personnel within the NNPCL may be aware of the circumstances surrounding the explosion, raising concerns about possible collusion.
“If those benefiting enormously from pipeline surveillance contracts are allegedly sabotaging oil facilities to attract government attention for contract renewal or review, what message does this send to host communities that gain nothing from such arrangements?” the group queried.
The group called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene, alleging that certain interests within government are collaborating with contractors in ways that are causing significant damage to the nation’s economy.
According to the NDMG, the cycle of sabotage may persist unless all stakeholders, including communities and groups currently excluded from surveillance contracts, are involved in future negotiations.
The group urged the Federal Government and NNPCL to act swiftly to address the grievances, warning that failure to do so could result in further explosions and disruptions, with grave consequences for the environment and regional stability.
“Failure to address these grievances could lead to further disruptions and explosions, posing an ongoing threat to both the environment and the peace of the region,” the statement warned.
Commander Tuoyo expressed hope that authorities would take decisive steps toward a resolution that considers the interests of all affected communities, adding that “government knows what to do.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited had earlier confirmed the explosion. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd., Mr. Andy Odeh, said the incident occurred on an oil pipeline near the Tebijor, Okpele and Ikpopo communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom.
According to Odeh, initial observations indicated a pressure drop consistent with a loss of containment on an NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC) pipeline.
“Our priority at this time is the safety of nearby communities and the protection of the environment. Emergency response procedures have been activated, and we are working closely with relevant authorities and community leaders to ensure a coordinated approach to mitigate impact,” he said.
Odeh added that NNPC Ltd. remains committed to the highest safety and environmental standards, noting that further updates would be provided as more confirmed information becomes available.
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