Third Oil Facility Explosion Hits Rivers Amid Ongoing Crisis

Port Harcourt, Rivers State– Another explosion has rocked an oil facility in Rivers State, making the third such incident in less than a week.

The latest blast occurred at the Soku oil facility in Akuku Toru Local Government Area, operated by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited.

The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) confirmed the explosion in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, on Sunday.

“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,” the statement read.

The cause of the explosion remains uncertain, with speculations ranging from equipment failure and sabotage to a deliberate attack.

This latest blast follows two previous oil facility explosions in the state.

The first occurred on the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo, Gokana LGA, while the second was in Oga/Egbema/Ndoni LGA—an incident referenced by President Bola Tinubu during his March 18 nationwide broadcast.

In response, the President declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended the governor, deputy governor, and the state House of Assembly, citing failure to protect critical oil infrastructure.

YEAC-Nigeria has called for an urgent investigation into the Soku explosion, urging the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to determine the cause.

“Perpetrators of this crime must be held accountable in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021,” YEAC-Nigeria stated.