Rivers State has witnessed yet another explosion at a gas station in the Soku axis of the Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, marking the third major incident involving oil and gas facilities in the state within a week.
Reports indicate that the explosion, which occurred around midnight on March 23, affected a section of the Soku gas pipeline operated by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited. This incident follows two previous explosions in the Oga/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area and the Ogoni region, raising concerns about the safety of oil infrastructure in the state.
The recurring attacks on oil and gas installations have caught national attention, with President Bola Tinubu referencing these incidents in his nationwide broadcast on March 18. In response to the escalating crisis, the president declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, citing security concerns and the state government’s failure to curb these attacks. Additionally, he suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, while appointing Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as the state’s Sole Administrator.
Dr. Dumnamene Fyneface, an environmentalist and Executive Chairman of the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), confirmed the explosion through reports from local youth volunteers. In a statement released in Port Harcourt, Dr. Fyneface described the explosion as being accompanied by massive fireballs, with flames still burning at the time of the report.
“It is currently unknown whether the explosion was caused by equipment failure, sabotage, or a deliberate attack on the facility,” Dr. Fyneface stated. He further urged the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 to determine the cause of the explosion and hold responsible parties accountable.
Despite the widespread concerns, the leadership of the Soku community has dismissed reports of an explosion at the gas facility. In a statement issued by Mr. Witness Alasia, the General Secretary of the community, he described the reports circulating on social media as “untrue and misleading.”
“I am writing on behalf of the Soku Kingdom’s leadership to refute the growing rumor on social media that the Soku Gas Plant exploded,” Alasia stated. “It is disheartening that people would spread false and misleading information. The Soku Gas Plant is fully operational and safe.”
However, Alasia did acknowledge that a fire outbreak occurred along the Soku-Abua-Rumuji gas pipeline right-of-way, although the cause of the fire remains undetermined. He emphasized that the company managing the facility has yet to release any official information regarding the incident.
“We want to assure the public that Soku and its satellite communities remain safe and peaceful,” Alasia concluded.
The conflicting reports regarding the explosion have left residents and industry observers seeking clarity on the situation. While advocacy groups are calling for investigations into the cause of these recurring incidents, local community leaders are urging the public to disregard what they describe as exaggerated reports.
With three explosions recorded in one week, concerns over the security of oil and gas infrastructure in Rivers State continue to mount. The federal government’s declaration of emergency and intervention measures will be closely watched as stakeholders await further updates on the Soku explosion and other recent incidents.
