Seven Feared Dead In Pipeline Explosion In Rivers

No fewer than seven persons are feared dead in an early morning petrol explosion which occurred at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Jetty in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, yesterday.
However, other sources close to the scene told The Tide that the death toll could be more than seven while several other persons injured by the explosion were receiving treatment in undisclosed clinics.
Efforts by journalists to get to the scene of the event which was close to the Port Harcourt Refinery were frustrated as the military men barred newsmen from gaining access.
The Chairman of Okrika Local Government Council, Barr Tamuno Williams, who confirmed the explosion, said it occurred at a creek near NNPC Jetty and accused authorities of NNPC of operating with aging facilities at the detriment of people’s lives.
Barr Tamuno called on the authorities of the corporation to maintain better safety standard by improving their maintenance culture, and particularly urged the corporation to take steps to protect lives of people in the area.
He disclosed that the explosion occurred at about 6.00 am and that the number of casualties could not be ascertained because of difficult terrain and security cordon.
The South South Zonal Co-ordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Emenike Umesi also confirmed the incident.
Emenike told newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday that the fire did not affect the main refinery before it was put out by fire service men.
He said NEMA officials were still assessing the situation to ascertain the number of causalities and value of property lost to the incident.
“Our officers are still assessing the situation. At the moment, we cannot give details of the extent of damage”, he said.
A statement from the Executive Director, Services of NNPC, Mr. Ralph Ugwu said the incident had no impact on the operations of the corporation, adding that there was no casualty on the part of the corporation.
“The incident has no impact on our operations whatsoever, and on our own side as NNPC, there is no casualty and the incident has no impact on our refining operations or on our jetty operations”, the statement said.
Explaining further, Mr. Ugwu said, “The truth is that nemesis caught up with people that came to steal product.
“Their boat got exploded. I don’t know about the number of people that died, but on our side, we have no casualty. I cannot speak on the thing that does not concern NNPC because NNPC did not record any casualty, and our operations are going on smoothly”, the statement said.
The National Public relations Officer of Petroleum and Natural Gas Association, condemned the incident, and called on the Federal Government to set up full scale investigation into the incident.
He decried the incessant oil theft in the country, and linked them to activities of a cartel.
The spokesperson of Rivers State Police Command, ASP Grace Koko, also confirmed the incident, and attributed it to vandals who were attempting to syphone petroleum products.

Chris Oluoh

Co-ordinator of Local Government Female Elected Executives and State Legislators Forum’s in Rivers State and Chairperson, Ogu-Bolo Local Government Council, Dame Maureen Tamuno, presenting an award to Governor Chibuike Amaechi, during the Forum’s visit to Government House, Port Harcourt at the weekend.