The Abia State House of Assembly has called on the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) to engage urgently with the Abia State Government to address the plight of residents of Owaza in Ukwa West Local Government Area affected by a recent pipeline explosion.
The resolution, passed on Tuesday as a matter of urgent public importance, urged the company to compensate victims for the destruction of their homes, farms and other property. Lawmakers noted that although no deaths or injuries were recorded, the incident caused significant material losses.
The motion was sponsored by the member representing Ukwa West Constituency, Godwin Adiele, who accused NPDC of failing to respond adequately to the aftermath of the explosion.
Adiele alleged that the company had adopted a negligent approach despite the extensive damage suffered by residents, arguing that it had fallen short of its corporate social responsibility obligations.
The Assembly subsequently condemned the company’s perceived failure to provide timely assistance to the affected community.
Meanwhile, the Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) Nigeria has called for an independent scientific investigation into the pipeline explosion, warning that the incident highlights the environmental, public health and safety risks associated with Nigeria’s ageing oil and gas infrastructure.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its Executive Director, Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, the organisation demanded the immediate constitution of a Joint Investigation Visit involving key regulatory agencies, government officials, community representatives, independent environmental experts and civil society organisations.
According to FENRAD, the proposed investigation should include representatives of the Federal Ministry of Environment, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Abia State Ministry of Environment, the pipeline operator, affected communities and relevant stakeholders.
“Such a Joint Investigation Visit is critical to establish the precise cause of the explosion, determine the extent of environmental contamination, assess the socio-economic impacts on affected communities, and recommend appropriate remediation and compensation measures,” the statement said.
