Explosion Rocks Agip’s Facility, Destroys Farmlands in Rivers

in Port Harcourt

The Obagi community in Egi land, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State has witnessed an explosion, which erupted from Agip Oil Company's facility in the area.

A visit by THISDAY to the scene of the incident yesterday revealed that the fire from the explosion destroyed farmlands, economic trees, and other sources of livelihood in the area.

It was gathered that the fire, which started on Wednesday night, caused residents and indigenes of Obagi to desert the community for fear of being killed by the fire that erupted from the leaking point of the gas in Udeta farmland.

This incident happened in Obagi barely 30 days after the Obrikom Obiafu community in the same LGA experienced an explosion on Agip pipelines, which claimed lives.

A community member who gave his name as Morgan Destiny, spoke on the incident, saying the indigenes of Obagi have deserted their community.

Destiny lamented: "Agip is virtually killing the community. On several occasions, we have reported issues of havoc that Agip is committing on the people of Obagi: Gas flaring, explosion, and others. It has become a norm of Agip to destroy our environment without remorse.

"Obagi is really in a pitiable condition. The issue of the gas eruption and explosion that happened two days ago started eight months ago. I have reported this issue to many authorities but none of them listened to us until the issue escalated.

"That night we didn't sleep; there was thick smoke, and fire gushing out of our farmland from the Agip gas facility, but to God be the glory, we are all alive today to tell the story".

Also speaking to THISDAY on the incident, the ONELGA Chairman, Vincent Job, said the incident was caused by equipment failure in the Agip’s facility.

He said: "Maybe because of equipment failure from the company. Although experts have more things to say about it. For us who are novices in the oil field, we found out that it is equipment failure because some of the equipment has lasted more than 30-40 years, and this calls for the removal, repair, or replacement of those pipelines.

"So far, we have not had any casualty from the gas incident at Obagi, but the degradation was enormous, even the noise coming from that place, I went there myself and saw it on a spot; I couldn't even get closer because if there is any spark, so many lives will be lost."

Speaking further, Job said: "The federal government in as much as they are collecting their crude oil, it is a natural economy, they should also ensure that they put every other thing in place that will keep the livelihood of the locals.

“If you go to that Obagi, one will not believe that such economic resources are being collected from such a community. Their lives were so bad; that the locals were crying. I went there because it is an emergency, I didn't go with anything", the chairman added.

Meanwhile, THISDAY gathered that there is a fresh crude oil spill on a pipeline belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Ogoniland.