Fire engulfs two flow stations in Bonny, workers missing, residents call for relief

Two flow stations allegedly owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) were engulfed by fire on Wednesday in the Cawthorne Channel area of Western Bonny Local Government Area, Rivers State.

The Guardian learnt that an unknown number of crew members working on the flow stations before the explosion were yet to be accounted for.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been caused by a failure to adhere to safety protocols and global best practices in managing oil and gas facilities, a recurring concern in the Niger Delta region.

This incident comes just weeks after a fire outbreak in OML 18, Bukuma Creek, Akuku-Toru Local Council, also in Rivers State.

The Niger Delta has recently witnessed frequent explosions and fires resulting from gas leaks and oil spills.

A viral video obtained by The Guardian showed a massive fire raging across the sea, destroying fish and other aquatic life, which are primary sources of livelihood for the riverine communities.

Confirming the incident, a community leader from the Cawthorne Channel, Mr Daniel Pollyn, stated that efforts were underway to locate the missing crew members.

“We have not been able to ascertain the number of casualties for now. However, search and rescue operations for the crew members are ongoing,” Pollyn said.

He further confirmed that the affected facilities belonged to NNPCL and criticised the company for its silence 24 hours after the incident.

Pollyn blamed the explosion on alleged neglect by the NNPCL and called for an immediate joint investigation visit (JIV) to determine the cause of the inferno. He also urged the provision of relief materials, compensation for residents, and clean-up and remediation of the affected areas.

“The fault is NNPCL’s. We await JIV, relief materials, and compensation for the pollution caused, as well as clean-up and remediation,” Pollyn stated.

He disclosed that community representatives and NNPCL officials were discussing the matter via a Zoom conference and expressed hope that pending issues would be resolved by Monday.

The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) also confirmed the explosion and crude oil spillage in the area.

Dr Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, the Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to investigate the volume of crude oil spilled into the environment and hold the company accountable.

Fyneface further emphasised the need for authorities to enforce environmental responsibility and ensure the protection of the region’s fragile ecosystem.