Environmental Rights group urges Audit of Agips safety procedures following frequent explosion Environmental Rights group urges Audit of Agips safety procedures following frequent explosion
Environmental Rights Action/Friends of Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has called for a comprehensive audit of safety procedures at Agip oilfields in Bayelsa following frequent fatal... Environmental Rights group urges Audit of Agips safety procedures following frequent explosion

AgipEnvironmental Rights Action/Friends of Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has called for a comprehensive audit of safety procedures at Agip oilfields in Bayelsa following frequent fatal explosions.

Three explosions had occurred at oilfields operated by Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) from July 9, 2015 till date in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

The blast on July 9, 2015 at Azuzuama area left 14 dead; another explosion on March 26, 2016 left 3 dead while the third in February 2016 left no casualties.

ERA/FoEN, an environmental rights focused Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) made the call in its field report on the pipeline explosion made available  on Monday in Yenagoa.

According to the report signed by Mr Alagoa Morris, Head of Field Resources at ERA the frequent fatal accidents had resulted to 17 deaths within the past nine months.

The NGO further called for stern sanctions including revocation of operational license of NAOC if found culpable.

“The authorities should set up an investigative panel of enquiry to follow up this incident to its logical conclusion and; there should be a public hearing of the report of such a panel.

“Community representatives and the Civil Society should be given an opportunity to also contribute towards such an effort to bring out the truth of the matter.

“The oil industry is too important to the nation and, it would be gross disservice and negligence on the part of three tiers of government not to accord proper investigation of such incidents the importance they deserve, RA/FoEN said.

The NGO further recommended that autopsy should be carried out on the victims of the explosion to determine the actual cause of death adding that deaths during repairs at NAOCs oil fields have reached alarming levels.

ERA/FoEN said that santions should be considered as a measure to make the industry more serious and professional in terms of engaging contractors, safety and oilfield practices in the field.

It also urged the regulatory agencies to ensure that Agip is compelled to clean up and remediate the impacted environment.

It will be recalled that Director-General, National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) Dr Peter Idabor had confirmed the death of three oil workers in the explosion.

Idabor attributed to poor safety procedures at the oil field operated by Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Bayelsa.

Meanwhile officials of NAOC and its parent company,  Eni have declined to comment on the explosion despite repeated contacts by NAN.

Mr Fillippo Cotalini, Media Relations Manager at Eni have yet to respond to an email request for a reaction to the March 26, 2016 pipeline explosion

admin