The leakage of a gas pipeline in Omoku town, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State has caused residents to flee their homes in a panic over fears of possible explosion.

The gas leakage which happened on Saturday, beside Grace Orphanage Home, off Egbada Road in Omoku main town, was said to have been caused by equipment failure, as the facility was installed in the area by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), in the early 1960s.

Confirming the incident on Sunday, the Egbema Voice of Freedom told our correspondent that the ruptured gas pipeline was yet to be clamped by NAOC who operate it, adding that residents around the area were now at risk of fire explosion.

Leader of Egbema Voice of Freedom, Pastor Evaristus Ukaonu Nicholas, said the pipelines were old and obsolete and should be replaced immediately.

Nicholas said, “The ruptured pipeline is yet to be clamped by Agip or Oando as we speak. Gas fumes are in the air. The pipeline explosion was caused by corrosion, no casualty has been recorded so far but the pipeline is operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company.

“These pipelines are old, they were laid in the early 1960s when Agip came to Onelga.

“Now that Oando Plc has acquired Agip, Oando should start thinking of replacing these obsolete pipelines with new ones, otherwise more explosions like these will be recorded.”

A resident of the area, Ambassador Bright Abali, called on NAOC and Oando Plc to immediately fix the damaged pipeline to avert a possible explosion and loss of lives in the area.

According to him, NAOC’s refusal to replace and maintain the pipelines had denied the youths of ONELGA the required employment such a project would be created for their host communities.

Abali said, “Gas eruption is a regular occurrence along Agip pipelines, particularly inside the forest areas due to obsolete pipelines. The company has refused to change their old facilities used over decades.

“NAOC exploration impact has caused unquantifiable damages to the environment, health and general life of the people of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni LGA of Rivers State and these unfriendly exploration practices must stop.”

Efforts to reach the Nigerian Agip Oil Company for reaction, proved abortive as several calls put across to the company rang out and were not returned as at when this report was filed. (Sunday Independent)