FENRAD Nigeria is pressing for a technical and independent inquiry into the oil pipeline rupture that occurred in the Owaza area of Ukwa West, Abia State. The disaster resulted in significant damage to residential property, livestock, and local agriculture. Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, the organization’s Executive Director, stated that this event highlights the serious safety and health threats linked to the nation’s deteriorating energy infrastructure.
The group insists on forming a Joint Investigation Visit that includes stakeholders from federal and state environmental ministries, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, local community leaders, and independent specialists. Such a team is essential to identify the root cause of the blast, measure the scale of ecological damage, and determine fair compensation for the victims.
Furthermore, FENRAD has urged the government to initiate a thorough Pipeline Integrity Assessment covering the entire Owaza corridor. This process should encompass corrosion checks, wall thickness examinations, and comprehensive risk evaluations. The organization emphasized that local residents should no longer shoulder the consequences of faulty infrastructure, calling for swift environmental restoration and stricter regulatory oversight of pipeline management throughout the region.
