Gas
Pipeline explosion in Rivers State injures twenty
A gas pipeline explosion in Eleme, Rivers State, has injured about twenty people and destroyed nearly fifty buildings.
Key points
- Around 20 people were injured and nearly 50 structures damaged in the Eleme explosion.
- The traditional ruler blamed ageing infrastructure and ignored warnings about prior leaks.
- The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited stated that emergency measures had been deployed.
What happened
A gas pipeline explosion along the Old Bori Road in Eleme, Rivers State, has left approximately twenty people injured and destroyed nearly fifty homes and shops. The incident, which occurred on a Thursday, triggered panic as residents fled the area. While no fatalities were recorded, multiple individuals sustained injuries and received hospital treatment.
HRM Phillip Obelle, the King of Eleme, inspected the site and criticized the operator for failing to act on earlier warnings. According to the monarch, community representatives had previously notified the facility management about strange noises emanating from the pipeline, but operators merely placed a barricade instead of conducting repairs. Obelle dismissed claims of third-party interference, attributing the disaster to rusted, long-standing infrastructure.
Official response
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited confirmed the incident, stating that the affected segment belongs to its subsidiary, the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited. Andy Odeh, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, announced that emergency protocols were activated and the pipeline section isolated.
“Protecting lives and preventing further harm are our immediate priorities,” Odeh said, according to Punch.
The operator is collaborating with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority alongside security agencies to manage the response and evaluate the environmental and property damage. Meanwhile, the Eleme Local Government Council urged authorities to temporarily shut down the facility and advised residents near the pipeline corridor to evacuate to safer locations pending investigations.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Gas is the flexible backbone of many grids and the designated transition fuel in many national plans, from LNG trade to domestic LPG and CNG. Supply security and pricing drive both power reliability and emissions.
72.9% of electricity in Nigeria came from gas in 2024Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
