Buguma Fire Outbreak: HOSTCON Youths Accuse SPDC/NNPCL Of Negligence

Following the outbreak of fire at Buguma wellhead 008, operated by the NNPCL/SPDC Joint Venture (JV) in Buguma, Asari-Toru local government area of Rivers State, the Host Communities Producing Oil, Gas and Pipeline Impacted States Youth Council of Nigeria (HOSTCON Youths) has blamed the NNPCL/SPDC Joint Venture (JV) of negligence.

The youths stated that vandals took advantage of the situation, which resulted in their reluctance to hold the vandals solely responsible for the fire outbreak at the facility.

A statement issued by the HOSTCON Youth Council of Nigeria president, Comrade Fiawei E. Pathfinder, indicated that the fire incident, which has left Buguma and its surroundings in a dire state, could have been avoided had the NNPCL/SPDC conducted quarterly inspections of pipelines and oil infrastructure.

The group noted that the pipelines and other facilities, primarily located in the saline swamp waters, have been in place for decades and are therefore susceptible to the elements within the ecosystem.

“In our emergency and crucial meeting regarding the unfortunate and devastating fire incident, the President of the Host Communities Producing Oil, Gas and Pipeline Impacted States Youth Council of Nigeria, along with the entire national leadership and the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the HOSTCON Youths of Nigeria, unequivocally condemn the lackadaisical attitude and negligence of the SPDC/NNPCL JV, the companies responsible for the OML 008 oil wellhead in the Buguma host community.

“We express our profound sorrow and deep regret over the devastating fire incident and extend our sympathies to the people of Buguma and its surroundings who have been affected by the blaze,” the youths stated.

They further expressed concern that since the life-threatening fire outbreak occurred in the Buguma community, SPDC/NNPCL have neither paid attention nor promptly dispatched their emergency fire response team to assess the extent of the devastation caused by the fire. As a result, the people of Buguma and neighbouring communities have been unable to pursue their fishing and other means of livelihood.

“We are distressed that SPDC/NNPCL JV has deliberately ignored the people of the Buguma community and the entire Kalabari Kingdom, which are significant oil and gas-producing regions contributing substantial amounts of crude oil and gas daily to sustain the economy. They are being neglected despite the severity of the raging fire. We strongly condemn this despicable attitude of SPDC and NNPCL towards our people.

“The reality is that the decay of these oil infrastructures and the companies’ negligence stem from a lack of proper systems to regularly check their condition. These pipelines have been in place for decades without maintenance.

“If there had been timely inspections, perhaps every four months or thrice a year, using appropriate equipment to assess their condition, this incident could have been avoided. Instead, the companies are now attributing the fire outbreak to illegal bunkers attempting to vandalise the wellhead.

“Thus, we must place the blame on the negligence and deterioration of the oil pipelines that are long overdue for maintenance, which are operated by SPDC and NNPCL,” the youths stated, demanding urgent action to support the Buguma host communities and their surroundings.

“HOSTCON Youths demand that SPDC/NNPCL immediately construct housing and healthcare facilities for the Buguma host community and its surroundings.

“We call upon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is the substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources, to establish a Panel of Inquiry composed of competent experts from the presidency, law enforcement agencies, and the Federal Ministry of Justice to investigate the causes of this devastating and life-threatening fire outbreak.

“Anyone found culpable should face appropriate punishment to serve as a deterrent to other IOCs. A thorough remediation of the waterways and the entire environment surrounding the wellhead must be undertaken.

“We demand urgent maintenance and replacement of the deteriorating oil infrastructure. All members of the affected host communities must be adequately compensated by the NNPCL/SPDC JV.

“Provision of pipe-borne water for the Buguma host community and others is also necessary.

“At this juncture, we wish to firmly state that if our demands are not met, we will take decisive action as a Council after due consultation,” the statement concluded.