Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) Nigeria has raised the alarm over the recent crude oil pipeline explosion in Owaza community, Ukwa West local government area of Abia State.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Umuahia, the state capital by its executive director, Nelson Nwafor, FENRAD demanded an immediate investigation into the explosion which led to huge losses.
It said the explosion, which destroyed farmlands, houses, and livestock had exposed the grave environmental, public health, and safety risks posed by the country’s aging oil and gas infrastructure.
“Such investigation is critical to establish the precise cause of the explosion, determine the extent of environmental contamination, assess socio-economic impacts on affected communities, and recommend appropriate remediation and compensation measures.”
“The FENRAD maintained that host communities should not continue to bear the disproportionate burden of environmental degradation resulting from aging energy infrastructure,” according to the statement.
While commending the state government for visiting the explosion sites, it called for a comprehensive Pipeline Integrity Assessment, of the entire pipeline corridor traversing Owaza and adjoining communities.
Meanwhile, the state government has assured residents of the state of its commitment to restoring normalcy in the affected communities, noting that no life was lost in the explosion.
The commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu announced this while briefing the media on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council Meeting chaired by the governor, Alex Otti in the capital, yesterday.
“The commissioner for Petroleum was there last week together with that for Environment, who happens to come from that community. They visited the place and assessed the extent of the damage. “ Kanu, who said some relief had been brought to the families affected, noted that the government was discussing the matter with the federal government and other stakeholders in the oil sector.
“But most importantly, they are in touch with the federal authorities and all the relevant stakeholders in the oil industry on whatever they may need to do in terms of ensuring that this does not reoccur.
“Because we have got information that what happened may have been as a result of some old equipment that has been installed there for a long time.
“So, maybe a solution would be for them to come down and ensure that new pipelines and bolts and nuts are fixed there”, the commissioner added.
