Senator Harry-Banigo Demands Investigation Into Bonny/Degema Flow Stations Explosions

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Senator representing Rivers West Senatorial Zone at the National Assembly, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, on Saturday, February 22, 2025, called on the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited NNPCL, to institute an inquest into  the incessant cases of  explosions that have been rocking oil facilities  within OML 18 in Bonny and Degema Councils of Rivers State.

The Source reports that the two vital oil facilities were, last Wednesday night, February 19, 2025, engulfed by fire resulting from a heavy explosion.

Although there has been no confirmed reports of human casualties, the two flow stations were severely damaged.

A video posted online by locals who witnessed the incident showed twin explosions at the oil facilities located close to Cawthone Channel off the coast of Bonny.

The blasts which resulted in a serious disruption of operations was said to have been caused by emission of excessive heat from a wielding facility.

Senator Banigo’s call comes on the heel of what she described as a worrisome recurrence of fire outbreaks within  the nation’s oil facilities.

It will be recalled that last Wednesday’s incident came less than  two weeks after the explosion that occurred  at the same OML 18, Oil facility in Bukuma Agum in same Degema Local Council.

In  a statement, Senator Banigo expressed serious concern over the frequency of the fire outbreaks.

“The recurrence of these fire outbreaks within the same OML 18, location in such a short time is deeply troubling.

“Any responsible society, organization, or institution should consider this a matter of grave concern.

The Senator who was the immediate past Deputy Governor of Rivers State, therefore, urged the NNPCL, as a major stakeholder, to carry out a comprehensive investigation with a view to ascertaining the true causes of the incessant inferno at the oil facilities.

He maintained that such recurring fire incidents is not in the best interest of the country.

She emphasized the imperativeness of the probe, ascertaining also the impact level of the  incidents on the environment, as well as the means of livelihoods of the people of the areas.