Elochukwu Benjamin
Awka
Environmental rights organisations, the Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) and the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), have called for an urgent joint investigation into the crude oil pipeline explosion that occurred on June 10, 2026, in Umuololo, Igiriukwu Autonomous Community, Owaza, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.
The groups made the demand in a joint statement issued after a three-day fact-finding and community engagement mission to the affected area.
They are urging the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and other relevant authorities to commence a transparent and technically credible Joint Investigation Visit (JIV).
According to the organisations, their mission was intended to document observable conditions, engage residents and community leaders, and identify concerns relating to environmental protection, public safety, livelihoods and emergency response, and that it was not designed to determine the cause of the explosion or assign liability before a formal investigation.
FENRAD and HEDA said a comprehensive Joint Investigation Visit should establish the immediate and underlying causes of the explosion, assess the condition and operational status of the affected pipeline, determine whether crude oil was released and ascertain the extent of any environmental contamination.
The groups also urged investigators to examine the impact of the incident on farmland, vegetation, water resources and community livelihoods, while reviewing the adequacy of emergency response, containment and clean-up measures already taken at the site.
They further called for scientific environmental assessments, including soil, surface water, groundwater and vegetation sampling where necessary, insisting that any laboratory analysis should follow transparent chain-of-custody procedures to preserve the credibility of the findings.
The organisations stressed that residents of Umuololo and the wider Owaza community should play an active role throughout the investigation rather than being treated as passive observers.
“Community representatives should be allowed to identify affected locations, provide relevant information and participate in discussions on environmental assessment, remediation and livelihood restoration,” the statement advocated.
FENRAD and HEDA also urged NEPL to preserve critical records relating to pipeline inspections, maintenance, emergency response and environmental monitoring, while requesting the company to acknowledge their formal request, nominate liaison officers and propose a date for the Joint Investigation Visit within 14 days.
The groups maintained that where environmental contamination is established through credible evidence, remediation should be carried out promptly in line with applicable environmental laws and standards, with meaningful community participation and independent monitoring.
They added that the investigation should culminate in a publicly documented report detailing the technical findings, environmental impacts, actions already taken and recommendations aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
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