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Agip Pipeline Explodes, Kills Three, Injures Seven
Men of Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service on Board NN Okpabana, preparing to take part in the 2016 Obanganme/Sahara Express Exercise on the Nigerian Water, recently
A pipeline belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Olugboboro community in Olodiama clan, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, has exploded, killing three persons, and injuring about seven others.
The explosion, which occurred, Sunday, when some technical staff of an oil contracting firm simply known as ‘Marine’, were working to clamp a ruptured section of the Agip pipeline, took the spirited efforts of Agip’s fire-fighters and other emergency crew teams to be brought under control, Monday.
Three of the victims, including an underwater welder identified simply as Nelson Negibo, were burnt beyond recognition and their corpses recovered after the fire was put out on Monday.
Two of the other victims, were further identified as indigenes of Adama in Twon-Brass, Brass Local Government Area of the state, while most of the victims with various degrees of burns, according to community sources, were flown to various medical centres in Bayelsa and Rivers states.
Confirming the incident, the Bayelsa State Coordinator of the Environmental Rights Action (ERA), Comrade Morris Alagoa, described the incident as shocking and tragic.
According to Alagoa, “The news of another tragic incident in the oil industry, which claimed three lives and several persons sustained various degrees of injuries, came to the Environmental Rights Action (ERA) as a great shock.
“For ERA, it was reliably gathered that there was another pipeline fire/explosion along Agip pipeline within Olugboboro environment on Sunday, 27th March, 2016 while repairs or clamping was on-going.
“While industrial and other accidents are part of the realities of our existence; some are preventable. And, this is where, we in ERA, will not stop calling on the authorities and regulators of the oil industry to make safety and best practices the mantra of the industry; not just profit. We are calling for a well-constituted panel of enquiry made up of professional/stakeholders (including CSOs) to investigate this incident, and recommendations and report made public.
“It is worrisome because; it is another sad commentary of the unsafe working environment and loss of lives. This is moreso, considering the fact that it happened less than a year from the Azuzuama incident which claimed over 12 lives last July,” Alagoa said.
“All things being equal, ERA in our usual way, shall visit the site of incident and obtain first-hand testimonies before coming out with our formal report and related advocacy statements,” he added.
Also speaking, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) through its Director-General, Dr. Peter Idabor, admitted that a staff of the agency escaped death in the incident.
Idabor said that the survivor had drawn the attention of the oil workers to the breach of safety procedure and left the scene shortly before the incident occurred.
“I received a report of the incident from our staff in Yenagoa office, and luckily, one of our officers on the team survived. Because of the unsafe conditions of the site, after inspection, my staff left the place, and he was not affected.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that the country would win the fight against insecurity.
The President gave the assurance at the Argungu International Fishing Festival in Argungu town, Kebbi State, on Saturday.
He noted that the relative peace currently being enjoyed in Kebbi and neighbouring states was the result of sustained investments in security intelligence, coordination among security agencies, and community engagement.
Tinubu assured farmers and fishermen of sustained federal support to guarantee food security and safety across the country.
“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the outcome of deliberate and sustained efforts. I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency, and insecurity will be won.
“Our farmers, fishermen, traders, and families will go about their lawful activities without fear,” he assured.
The President commended the organisers of the festival for sustaining the cultural event for decades, noting that it had endured for 83 years despite social and security challenges.
Describing the Argungu festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence, Tinubu stated that it reflects the richness of the country’s culture and the opportunities to harness its natural and human resources for national growth.
He said, “Today, this festival stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people.
“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities inherent in harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
The President was received by a large crowd of residents, traditional rulers, fishermen, tourists, and government officials from across the country.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth and women empowerment, irrigation development, rural electrification, and agricultural productivity.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said his administration was determined to elevate the Argungu Fishing Festival to full international standards while pursuing aggressive development across critical sectors of the state.
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed today, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
The mission made this known in a notice shared on its official X page, yesterday.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents’ Day,” the post read.
According to the embassy, Presidents’ Day was originally established to honour the birthday of the former US President, George Washington, but has evolved into a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents and their leadership in shaping the country’s history.
The embassy noted that the holiday also recognises the influence of U.S. presidents on global affairs.
In a related message, the mission highlighted that Washington created the first “Badge of Military Merit,” which later became the Purple Heart. The medal still bears Washington’s image today.
Presidents’ Day is observed on the third Monday of February annually in the United States as a federal holiday.
News
Guterres Backs Nigeria’s Bid For UN Security Council Seat …Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Regional Security Role
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has charged Nigeria with spearheading Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.
Guterres, who backed Nigeria’s bid for the world body’s security council seat, also praised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions, despite facing its own security challenges.
The UN scribe made the remarks last Friday night during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the meeting, Guterres said Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism placed it in a unique position to lead Africa in the evolving global order.
“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” he said.
The UN Secretary-General and the vice president discussed key developments in Nigeria and the country’s expanding leadership role in promoting regional stability across West Africa and the Sahel.
Guterres commended the remarkable and outstanding reforms of the administration of President Tinubu, noting that Nigeria’s bold economic restructuring and security commitments have strengthened its continental standing.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria–UN collaboration to advance global economic growth, peace and security, sustainable development, and a coordinated humanitarian response across Africa.
In his remarks, Shettima thanked the UN Secretary-General for his leadership in advancing global peace, noting that Africa has benefited immensely from his tenure, even as the United Nations undergoes internal restructuring.
“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” the vice president said.
Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system to reflect evolving global realities.
He emphasised that Africa must have stronger representation in global decision-making structures and declared that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation, with Guterres reaffirming the UN’s support for Nigeria’s reform agenda and its growing leadership role in advancing peace, security, and development across Africa.