The Bayelsa Government yesterday frowned at the poor safety records at Agip’s oil fields within the state which allegedly led to a pipeline explosion that claimed 13 lives.

It will be recalled that an explosion on Agip’s Tebidaba-Clouugh Creek Pipeline in Azuzuama Community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area killed 13 and injured three others last week Thursday, July 9.

An official of Bayelsa Ministry of Environment, a regulatory staff of National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and maintenance crew of an oil services firm were amongst the victims.

The Government has therefore ordered a comprehensive forensic investigation into the Agip pipeline explosion.

Speaking at a meeting with officials of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, (NAOC), NOSDRA and Bayelsa government official in Yenagoa, Dickson warned that the incident will not be swept under the carpet.

Dickson said that reports at his disposal indicated the company has very poor compliance record to environmentally accepted standards in its operations in the state.

He vowed that the state government would not hesitate to explore all legal means to seek redress over the sad incident and serial abuse of the environment.

The Governor, who urged oil companies and other firms to operate in line with international standards, expressed dismay at the absence of NAOC’s Managing Director at the meeting despite the weighty nature of the incident.

Dickson stated that henceforth he would want to deal with the Chief Executive Officer in discussing any weighty mutual issues, where binding decisions are to be taken.

While consoling the families that lost their loved ones to the incident, Dickson restated his administration’s commitment to the protection of the environment against any further destruction by oil companies and pipeline vandals.

Dickson said “In this government, we are concerned about the environment. The statistics that have been read out is alarming, to say the least. I can’t imagine in this state, how from your facilities alone, 656 spills occurred in one year.

“That means, almost 3 spills at 3 different sites occur everyday of the year. That is very troubling even though I know that the activities of some of our people also contribute to it.

“In view of the litany of complaints against most of the oil companies here, and in particular about Agip from all stakeholders-security, communal and government, the Government of Bayelsa is interested in a full forensic investigation.

“Like I said earlier, I don’t want to prejudge the final report that will come. But if the investigation concludes that your company has not or is not doing enough in terms of observing environmentally accepted standards, the Government of Bayelsa State will not hesitate in taking action

“It will include all legal measures to ensure that you are brought to account including moving for a revocation of your license to operate here.”

Agip had said last Friday, July 10, that 13 persons died in the pipeline explosion which occurred on Thursday afternoon at Agip’s oil fields in Azuzuama area.

Officials of Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), representatives of the host community and Bayelsa Ministry of Environment were investigating the cause of a recent oil spill in the area when the explosion occurred.

According to a statement issued by an Eni Spokesman Mr Filipo Cotalini, the parent company of NAOC, the cause of the explosion is being investigated.

“Eni informs that an explosion occurred yesterday, 9 July late afternoon, at the site of the repair works of the Tebidaba-Clough Creek line, an oil pipeline in Nigeria’s onshore Niger Delta, previously damaged by acts of sabotage.

“The explosion resulted in the death of 12 members of the maintenance team of a local company of services, with 3 others being injured.

“The causes of the incident are still under investigation by both Eni and the local authorities.

“The company expresses its deepest condolences to the families involved in this tragic accident,” the firm stated.

Representative of NOSDRA, Mr Dipo Obanewa and a Zonal Head, NOSDRA, Sir Cyrus Nkangwung, Mr Paolo Carnevale General Manager District at NAOC attended the meeting.

The Agip team and Managing Director of MW Vowgas Limited, the oil services firm handling the pipeline repairs, Mr Godwin Izomor, said the cause of the fire that sparked the explosion remains unknown.