Senator Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, representing Rivers West Senatorial District, has issued a compelling call for an immediate and comprehensive investigation into a series of alarming explosions occurring at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) facilities within Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18. The incidents, which have recently plagued Bonny and Degema Local Government Areas, demand urgent attention and accountability.
The senator, who is the immediate past Deputy Governor of Rivers State, expressed profound concern over the repeated incidents. A recent explosion near Cawthorne Channel in Bonny, occurring just two days prior, followed a similar blast weeks earlier in Bukuma (Agum), Degema. “The recurrence of these fire outbreaks within the same OML 18 location in such a short time is deeply troubling,” Senator Harry-Banigo stated. “Any responsible society, organization, or institution should consider this a matter of grave concern.”
In a direct appeal to NNPCL, the operators of OML 18, Senator Harry-Banigo emphasized the necessity of a thorough and transparent investigation. This probe, she asserted, must extend beyond identifying immediate triggers, delving into the underlying systemic factors contributing to these hazardous events. Furthermore, she underscored the critical importance of assessing the far-reaching environmental consequences and the detrimental impact on the livelihoods of the affected local communities.
Senator Harry-Banigo’s demand highlights the pressing need for stringent safety protocols and robust oversight within the oil and gas sector, particularly in regions where communities are acutely vulnerable to environmental degradation and industrial accidents.
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