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Abia inspects Owaza explosion site as group demands pipeline integrity assessment – EnviroNews
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The Abia State Government has carried out an on-the-spot assessment of the pipeline explosion that occurred on Monday, June 22, 2026, at Umuololo Owaza in Ukwa Local Government Area of the state, assuring affected residents of its commitment of addressing the situation and preventing future occurrences.
The explosion involved a pipeline on Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11, operated by the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), causing oil spill that affected people’s homes, farms, schools, shops and livestock.
The assessment team comprised of Philemon Asonye Ogbonna, Commissioner for Environment; Joel Ogbonna, Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources; Ijeoma Iheukwumere, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment; and other government officials.
Philemon Ogbonna said government remained focused on protecting lives and the environment, while supporting legitimate business activities across the state.
“The Abia State Government, under the leadership of Governor Alex Otti, is committed to creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive while ensuring environmental sustainability and the safety of our people,” he said.
The commissioner noted that the incident occurred around 1:30 am, when movement within the area was minimal, a development that has helped avert a greater tragedy.
“We are thankful that no lives were lost, although some buildings were badly affected and situation could have been worse. Government is closely monitoring development and working with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the matter is adequately addressed,” he added.
Joel Ogbonna attributed the explosion to equipment failure, raising concerns about the age and condition of the affected pipeline.
According to him, pipelines are typically expected to be replaced after 25 years but the Owaza pipeline has reportedly been in use for over 70 years.
“When critical infrastructure exceeds its expected lifespan without adequate replacement, the risk of failure increases significantly. The company responsible must immediately begin remediation of the affected area and replace the aging pipeline to prevent a reoccurrence,” he said.
In a reaction to the development, the Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), an environmental justice and climate change advocacy group, has expressed concern over the crude oil pipeline explosion, saying that the incident has once again exposed the grave environmental, public health, and safety risks posed by Nigeria’s aging oil and gas infrastructure.
In a statement endorsed by Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, the FENRAD Executive Director, the group emphasised that a transparent, scientific, and independent assessment remains imperative, pointing out that the recurring incidence of pipeline failures across the Niger Delta underscores the urgent need for evidence-based investigations and systemic infrastructure renewal.
FENRAD therefore called for the immediate constitution of a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) involving 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, community representatives, independent environmental experts, and environmental focused civil society organisations.
Such a Joint Investigation Visit, it stated, is critical to establish the precise cause of the explosion, determine the extent of environmental contamination, assess socio-economic impacts on affected communities, and recommend appropriate remediation and compensation measures.
“As an environmental justice campaigner, FENRAD maintains that communities should not continue to bear the disproportionate burden of environmental degradation resulting from aging energy infrastructure. As a climate change advocate, the Foundation further stresses that resilient, safe, and environmentally sustainable energy infrastructure is indispensable to Nigeria’s climate adaptation, pollution prevention, and sustainable development objectives.
“Beyond the immediate response, FENRAD strongly advocates for a comprehensive Pipeline Integrity Assessment (PIA) of the entire pipeline corridor traversing Owaza and adjoining communities. The integrity assessment should include corrosion evaluation, wall thickness testing, hydrostatic pressure testing where appropriate, leak detection system evaluation, geotechnical stability assessment, and a comprehensive risk analysis to determine the operational safety of the infrastructure.
“Where engineering assessments confirm that the pipeline has exceeded its safe operational lifespan or no longer meets contemporary safety standards, FENRAD calls for its immediate decommissioning and replacement with modern pipeline infrastructure designed and installed in accordance with international best practices, applicable Nigerian regulations, and globally accepted environmental and safety standards.
“Environmental protection cannot be achieved through emergency responses alone. Preventive asset integrity management, routine maintenance, continuous monitoring, and timely replacement of obsolete facilities remain fundamental obligations of pipeline operators under responsible environmental stewardship,” the group stated
Furthermore, FENRAD urged the relevant authorities to undertake immediate environmental sampling and laboratory analyses of impacted soil, groundwater, surface water, sediments, and ambient air quality to determine the extent of contamination and guide evidence-based remediation efforts.
“The affected communities deserve prompt environmental restoration, transparent disclosure of findings, and adequate compensation for any verified losses suffered.”
FENRAD also called on regulatory agencies to strengthen oversight and enforce strict compliance with pipeline integrity management programmes across the oil-producing region, adding that preventable infrastructure failures continue to threaten biodiversity, livelihoods, food security, ecosystem services, and the constitutional right of citizens to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.
“FENRAD reiterates that environmental justice requires accountability, transparency, community participation, and adherence to internationally recognised environmental standards. The Owaza incident must serve as a catalyst for comprehensive reforms in pipeline asset management rather than another addition to the long history of avoidable environmental degradation in the Niger Delta.”
