An explosion at Cawthorne Channel 1 and Alakiri Kulama triggered severe environmental damage, NIMASA confirmed, polluting waters and disrupting nearby fishing communities.
Officials emphasized unanimous financial agreements, citing over 85% attendance at caucus and NEC meetings as proof of consensus.
>NIMASA’s Search and Rescue team is actively investigating pollution levels, with initial findings suggesting potential impacts on Ayo-Tamuno and Miebaka communities.
Consequently, experts are now analyzing the situation to assess the environmental damage and identify mitigation measures.
Recent samples reveal a visible oil film covering much of the water’s surface, highlighting the urgency of the issue.
On February 19, an explosion erupted at the BESTAF5 barge in Cawthorne Channel 1 around 14:10 hours, sparking fires. Flames rapidly engulfed Geonofeg Resources’ Goshen Link and Godgift fuel barges, escalating the incident’s severity.
. All affected barges were reportedly laden with crude oil at the time of the incident.
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Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director General of NIMASA, expressed his agency’s commitment to addressing the environmental fallout and preventing future occurrences. “We will work closely with other relevant government agencies and host communities to manage the environmental impact of this incident. #
Our team has actively conducted multiple site visits to investigate the explosion.
These efforts will persist until a comprehensive report clearly identifies both immediate and underlying causes. This ongoing process ensures a thorough understanding of the incident.
Dr. Mobereola further emphasized the importance of pollution prevention as a cornerstone of NIMASA’s mission to safeguard Nigeria’s marine environment. While pollution control measures are being prioritized in this case, he highlighted the agency’s broader focus on preventing such incidents as the ultimate solution.
The affected site is located at coordinates Latitude 4.575579° and Longitude 7.064638°.
NIMASA’s accident investigation team is actively analyzing collected samples and evaluating damage to the marine ecosystem and local livelihoods. Meanwhile, as investigations progress, NIMASA has reiterated its commitment to ensuring cleaner waters in Nigeria’s maritime domain. Furthermore, the agency aims to learn from this incident to strengthen safety protocols and environmental protection measures.
