Community Calls for Action After Gas Blast Injures 20 in Rivers

Residents of Aleto community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State are asking for compensation and a full investigation into a gas pipeline explosion. This blast reportedly injured 20 people and damaged over 50 houses and shops.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited) confirmed the explosion on Friday. They said it happened on Thursday along a gas pipeline run by its subsidiary, NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited.

This incident has raised worries about the safety of residents and how warnings about a suspected gas leak were handled before the blast.

In a video seen by PREMIUM TIMES, brownish smoke rose into the sky from the blast area. People nearby ran for safety, while others stood at a distance, looking scared, with some appearing to pray as the smoke continued to rise.

The Punch newspaper reported that 20 people were injured. A traditional ruler blamed the explosion on warnings that were reportedly ignored.

Survivors, according to The Guardian, are also asking for compensation for their losses. They want an investigation into claims that someone reported the suspected leak before the explosion.

A shop owner named Esther told the newspaper that she was serving customers when she heard a loud explosion. As she and others rushed outside to see what happened, another blast occurred. This scattered goods and forced them to run for their lives.

The explosion reportedly took place along Old Bori Road in Aleto community.

Community leaders have echoed the claims about ignored warnings. Channels Television reported that an eyewitness said the pipeline had been leaking for about three weeks before the explosion. Daniel Chuma, the leader of the Eleme Legislative Council, said he had written to the company and contacted relevant authorities about the leak, asking for urgent action.

The King of Eleme, Philip Osaro Obele, accused the pipeline operator of failing to act on an earlier warning about unusual noises from the facility. He claimed that officials visited the site but only put up a barricade instead of fixing the suspected issue. These claims have not been confirmed by an independent technical investigation.

Government response

The Rivers State Government said its Environment and Energy and Natural Resources ministries went to the site to check the damage and talk to the affected community.

During their visit, the state government showed sympathy for the residents and called for urgent action to tackle the problems facing Eleme. Community representatives repeated their concerns about how the reported leak was managed and asked for accountability.

NNPC stated that it had isolated the affected pipeline section. They are working with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, security agencies, and other stakeholders to assess the damage.

The company also said it would review relevant operational records, including past reports and actions taken, to understand what led to the explosion and find suitable corrective actions.

However, NNPC mentioned that it is still looking into the cause of the explosion and the full extent of its impact. They asked residents to stay away from the affected area and follow safety instructions from emergency responders.