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 Visit (JIV) into the June 10, 2026 crude oil pipeline explosion at Umuololo, Igiriukwu Autonomous Community, Owaza, in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.
The two civil society organisations want NNPC Exploration & Production Limited (NEPL), the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to participate in a transparent investigation involving affected residents and relevant technical institutions.
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Groups Seek Evidence Based Investigation
The call followed a three day fact finding and community engagement exercise conducted by FENRAD at the affected site and within the host community.
According to the organisations, the exercise focused on documenting conditions at the site, listening to residents and understanding concerns around environmental protection, public safety, livelihoods and the response to the incident.
FENRAD stressed that the fact finding exercise was not intended to determine the cause of the explosion or assign blame.
Rather, the organisation said the information gathered during the visit reinforced the need for a formal, evidence based investigation involving the pipeline operator, regulators, affected communities and civil society organisations.
The proposed investigation is expected to establish the immediate and underlying causes of the explosion, assess the condition and operational status of the affected pipeline and determine whether crude oil was released.
It would also examine the volume and spread of any release, possible contamination and its effects on farmland, vegetation, water resources and community livelihoods.
Groups Seek Environmental Tests And Pipeline Records
FENRAD and HEDA are also seeking scientific assessment of potentially affected soil, surface water, groundwater and vegetation.
The groups want relevant pipeline integrity and maintenance records preserved, alongside operational documents, emergency response reports, spill notifications, photographs, videos, clean up records and environmental monitoring data.
They said any laboratory testing should follow scientifically valid procedures to ensure that samples and findings remain credible and transparent.
The organisations also want investigators to assess the adequacy and timing of the emergency response, measures taken to contain or clean up any release, and whether further environmental sampling or laboratory analysis is necessary.
National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA)’s responsibilities include coordinating oil spill response under Nigeria’s National Oil Spill Contingency Plan, as well as activities relating to Joint Investigation Visits, damage assessment, clean up and remediation monitoring.
Community Participation Required
The groups said residents of Umuololo, Igiriukwu and the wider Owaza community should have a meaningful role in the investigation.
They said affected residents should be able to identify areas they believe were impacted, provide information about their experiences and participate in discussions on environmental assessment, remediation and possible livelihood losses.
FENRAD and HEDA further called for any contamination confirmed through technical evidence to be followed by scientifically guided remediation that is transparent, independently verifiable and properly monitored.
The organisations want the Joint Investigation Visit to produce a detailed report covering the circumstances of the explosion, technical findings and environmental impacts established through evidence.
They also want the report to document areas of disagreement among stakeholders, remedial measures already undertaken, additional actions required and recommendations for preventing similar incidents.
FENRAD and HEDA said relevant findings should be communicated to the affected communities to improve transparency and public confidence in the investigation.
The organisations stressed that community accounts and field observations should be considered alongside technical evidence, while distinguishing verified facts from issues requiring further investigation.
Groups Give NEPL 14 Days To Respond
FENRAD and HEDA have asked NEPL (NNPC Exploration and Production Limited) to acknowledge their request, confirm its participation and work with NOSDRA, NUPRC and other relevant authorities to organise the investigation.
They also want the company to propose a date for the (Joint Investigation Visit)JIV, designate focal persons and preserve relevant pipeline and environmental records.
The organisations further requested information on containment, clean up and remediation measures already carried out or planned.
They asked NEPL (NNPC Exploration and Production Limited) to communicate a proposed date for the investigation within 14 days of receiving the request, citing concerns over potential environmental, livelihood and public safety implications.
Photographs submitted with the request reportedly show exposed sections of the pipeline and areas of discoloured or pooled liquid observed during subsequent visits.
However, FENRAD and HEDA noted that such images alone cannot establish the cause of the explosion or conclusively determine the nature or extent of contamination.
The organisations therefore reiterated that the investigation should be guided by evidence and should clearly distinguish verified technical findings from community testimony and preliminary field observations.
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