Just days after a significant explosion on the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area, another blast has struck the Soku oil facility in Akuku Toru Local Government Area, Rivers State, raising fresh concerns over the safety of oil infrastructure in the region.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), a prominent grassroots NGO with a strong presence across the Niger Delta, confirmed the explosion on Sunday.
According to the organization, reports from local youth volunteers indicated an early morning blast at the facility, which is operated by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, YEAC described the incident as an explosion accompanied by visible fireballs, which were observed rising into the sky.
The fire, according to the statement, continues to rage at the time of reporting, and the area remains difficult to access due to the ongoing flames.
The cause of the explosion remains unclear, with speculation surrounding potential equipment failure, sabotage, or a deliberate attack on the facility.
This marks the third explosion at oil facilities in Rivers State in less than a week, following a blast in Ogoni and another in the Oga/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
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President Bola Tinubu addressed the escalating crisis in his March 18 nationwide broadcast, declaring a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State. He cited the recent attacks on oil infrastructure as a key reason for the intervention, which also led to the suspension of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Deputy Governor, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The suspension was attributed to Fubara’s alleged failure to protect the state’s vital oil infrastructure.
In the wake of these incidents, YEAC-Nigeria has called for an immediate investigation into the explosion at the Soku oil facility.
The group has urged the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to ascertain the cause of the blast and ensure those responsible are held accountable under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.
“The perpetrators of this crime must be brought to justice,” YEAC concluded in its statement, highlighting the importance of holding those responsible for damaging critical oil infrastructure in the region.
