Elochukwu Benjamin
Awka
The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), in collaboration with the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), has conducted a joint civil society investigation into the June 10 crude oil pipeline explosion at Umuololo, Igiriukwu Autonomous Community, Owaza, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.
The three-day fact-finding mission involved an on-site inspection of the affected area and consultations with community leaders, residents and other stakeholders to document the circumstances and impacts of the incident.
The organisations said the exercise was an independent fact-finding mission aimed at documenting observable facts, community testimonies and environmental concerns, rather than determining the cause of the explosion or assigning blame without sufficient evidence.
According to a statement made available to the News Chronicle by the Executive Director of the FENRAD, Comrade Nnanna Nwafor on behalf of the CSOs, they received concerns by residents over the possible effects of the explosion and crude oil release on farmlands, soil, vegetation, water resources, livelihoods, public health and the wider ecosystem.
The CSOs called for comprehensive technical and environmental assessments by relevant authorities to establish the extent of any contamination and the impact on affected communities.
The organisations also urged the government, regulatory agencies and the operating company to conduct a transparent Joint Investigation Visit (JIV), involving affected communities and civil society groups.
They said the investigation should determine the cause of the explosion, condition of the pipeline, volume of crude released, extent of environmental contamination, impact on livelihoods, adequacy of emergency response and measures required to prevent a recurrence.
FENRAD and HEDA further called for prompt, scientifically guided remediation where pollution is established, stressing that affected communities must be meaningfully involved in investigation, remediation and compensation processes.
They noted that the Umuololo incident had renewed concerns over ageing petroleum infrastructure in the Niger Delta, urging operators and relevant authorities to strengthen pipeline maintenance, infrastructure monitoring, emergency response and community engagement.
The organisations said findings from the mission would inform further advocacy and engagement with regulatory institutions and other stakeholders, while a detailed joint assessment report would be released subsequently.
They insisted that all relevant stakeholders must treat the incident with urgency and ensure transparency, environmental protection, accountability and appropriate redress for verified damage to livelihoods and community resources.
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