Another Explosion Hits Rivers Oil Facility as Protesters Shut Down East-West Road

Another explosion has struck an oil facility in Rivers State, this time at a pipeline manifold in the Omwawriwa area of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. This incident occurred just hours after a similar explosion rocked the Trans-Niger Pipeline in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area.

The affected pipeline in Omwawriwa reportedly transports crude oil to Brass in Bayelsa State, with eyewitnesses describing massive flames and thick smoke emanating from the forested site. Authorities have yet to confirm the cause of the explosion, though investigations are underway.

The earlier explosion at the Trans-Niger Pipeline, a critical infrastructure operated by Shell that carries over 450,000 barrels of oil daily to the Bonny Terminal, has raised concerns about sabotage. Recent threats from militant groups targeting oil facilities amid Rivers State’s ongoing political crisis have heightened suspicions. The explosions have sparked fears of environmental damage and economic losses in the oil-dependent Niger Delta region.

Meanwhile, in a related development, over 100 Ijaw youths staged a protest on Tuesday by blocking the Ahoada axis of the East-West Road leading to Bayelsa State. The demonstrators carried placards expressing solidarity with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara in his political conflict with the state House of Assembly. Some placards called for the dismissal of Nyesom Wike as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and accused defected lawmakers of betraying their mandates.

These incidents highlight escalating tensions in Rivers State, where political instability and threats to critical oil infrastructure are converging to create a volatile situation. Environmental advocacy groups and local leaders are urging immediate investigations into the explosions and calling for enhanced security measures to protect vital oil assets. The economic and ecological implications of these incidents remain a growing concern for both local communities and Nigeria’s oil-dependent economy.