An explosion has rocked the Soku oil facility operated by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited in Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
This comes barely a week a similar explosion hit the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo, Gokana local government area of the same state, currently under an emergency rule.
The development raises fresh concerns over the security and safety of critical oil infrastructure in the region.
The cause of the explosion remains unclear; whether it resulted from equipment failure, sabotage or a targeted attack on the facility.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) confirmed the incident on Sunday, citing firsthand reports from its network of youth volunteers across the Niger Delta. In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, the group described the severity of the explosion, noting that “an explosion accompanied by fireballs was heard and seen in the sky from the facility area, which is difficult to reach. The fire is still ongoing as of the time of this report.”
This marks the third oil facility explosion in Rivers State within a week. The first incident occurred in Ogoni, while the second took place in Oga/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area. The Oga explosion was referenced by President Bola Tinubu in his March 18 nationwide address, where he declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State.
As part of the emergency measures, President Tinubu suspended the Rivers State House of Assembly, Deputy Governor, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, citing the governor’s alleged failure to protect vital oil infrastructure. This decision followed threats from some youths in a viral video warning against Fubara’s impeachment.
YEAC-Nigeria has demanded an immediate investigation into the Soku explosion. The group urged the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to determine the cause and ensure accountability.
“Perpetrators of this crime must be held accountable in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021,” the statement concluded.