Peter Idabor, Director-General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), has confirmed a pipeline blast at an oil field operated by Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Bayelsa.
According to community sources, the explosion which occurred on Easter Sunday, left several people injured.
Mr. Idabor said a staff of the agency escaped death in the incident.
He said the survivor had called the attention of the oil workers to the breach of safety procedure and left the scene shortly before the incident occurred.
“I received a report of the incident from our staff in Yenagoa office and luckily one of our officers on the team survived. Because of the safety conditions of the place after inspection my staff left the place and he was not affected.
” I am going to report the matter officially to the Minister of Environment today,” Mr. Idabor said.
Three maintenance workers died in the explosion which reportedly occurred during repair work on the crude oil pipeline located at Olugboro in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.