By BONIFACE AKARAH

The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) and the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) have called for an urgent joint investigation into the June 10, 2026 pipeline explosion at Umuololo, Igiriukwu Autonomous Community, Owaza, in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.

In a statement dated September 15, 2026, the two civil society organisations said the call followed a three-day fact-finding and community engagement mission at the affected site and within the host community, stressing that the exercise was not intended to prejudge the cause of the explosion or assign liability without adequate evidence.

FENRAD and HEDA urged NNPC Exploration & Production Limited (NEPL) to facilitate and participate in a comprehensive Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) alongside the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and other relevant technical and regulatory bodies.

The organisations also called for the participation of representatives of Umuololo/Igiriukwu Autonomous Community, affected residents and relevant civil society groups in the investigation.

According to them, the JIV should establish the immediate and underlying causes of the explosion, the condition and operational status of the affected pipeline, whether crude oil was released, the volume and extent of any release, and the nature and extent of possible environmental contamination.

They also want the investigation to examine the impact on agricultural land, soil, vegetation and water resources, the effect on community livelihoods, the adequacy of emergency response and containment measures, and the present environmental condition of the affected location.

FENRAD and HEDA further called for environmental assessment and, where technically warranted, the collection of scientifically valid samples from potentially affected soil, surface water, groundwater and vegetation.

“Where laboratory analysis is required, the organisations call for transparent sampling, chain-of-custody procedures and credible laboratory analysis so that the resulting evidence can support appropriate regulatory, environmental and remedial decisions,” the organisations stated.

They also urged the preservation of relevant records, including pipeline inspection and integrity records, maintenance and repair records, operational records, incident and emergency response reports, spill notifications, photographs, videos, site documentation and records of containment and clean-up activities.

On community involvement, the organisations said residents should not merely observe a process concerning their environment and livelihoods but should be allowed to identify affected locations, provide relevant information and participate in discussions on environmental assessment, remediation and livelihood impacts.

“A credible JIV should therefore promote transparency, procedural fairness, evidence-based investigation and meaningful stakeholder participation,” FENRAD and HEDA said.

The groups further called for timely and scientifically guided remediation if environmental contamination or other damage is established through appropriate evidence.

They said any remediation programme should be environmentally appropriate, independently verifiable, carried out with meaningful community participation, properly monitored and designed to address both immediate and residual environmental impacts.

FENRAD and HEDA also demanded that the JIV produce a documented report detailing the technical findings, areas of agreement or disagreement among stakeholders, established environmental impacts, actions already taken, further remedial measures required and steps needed to prevent a recurrence.

They said relevant findings should also be communicated transparently to the affected community.

“Such disclosure is important for building public confidence and ensuring that communities affected by environmental incidents are not excluded from decisions concerning their environment, livelihoods and public safety,” the organisations stated.

The proposed participants in the JIV include NEPL, NOSDRA, NUPRC, relevant environmental and petroleum regulators, the Abia State Government, representatives of Umuololo/Igiriukwu and affected stakeholders, FENRAD, HEDA and other competent technical institutions.

FENRAD and HEDA said they had formally requested NEPL to acknowledge the request, confirm its participation, liaise with the relevant authorities, propose a date for the JIV, designate focal persons and make relevant incident, pipeline integrity and environmental records available to investigators.

They requested that a proposed date for the investigation be communicated within 14 days of receipt of the formal request, citing the potential implications of the Incident for environmental quality, community livelihoods and public safety.

The organisations said their demand was made in the public interest and that they would continue to distinguish between verified facts, community testimonies, field observations and issues requiring further technical investigation.

“FENRAD and HEDA believe that an inclusive and technically credible investigation will provide an appropriate basis for determining the environmental and socio-economic implications of the incident and identifying any necessary remedial and preventive measures,” they said.