Opinion

Pipeline Leakages And Fire, Past 25 Years

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2023

The most recent alarm about leaking pipeline raised by community members this month was in Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area in Rivers State. A clergyman operating an orphanage close to the scene of pipeline leakage made a pathetic appeal for an immediate intervention by appropriate authorities, in the interest of many children in the orphanage. There had been similar reported cases in various parts of Rivers State; neither must all such reported cases of pipeline leakages be associated with oil bunkering or sabotage. In this case of Omoku leakage, there is present danger, apart from several people moving away from the scene. It is sad that in the past 25 years there have been numerous cases of pipeline leakages and fire in Nigeria. October 18, 1998, it was reported that 1,082 persons died at Jesse, Delta State, as a result of pipeline fire. June 25, 1999, 15 persons were reported to have been burnt alive at Akute-Odo, Lagos. February 7, 2000, 17 persons died in Ogwe, Abia State, from pipeline fire, and March 20, same year and close to Isioma, Abia State, no fewer than 20 persons died in similar sad incident. June 21, 2000, 28 persons were burnt to death at Okuedjeba near Warri, in Delta State.
July 11, 2000, nearly 300 people reportedly died from pipeline fires in Warri, Delta State, and on 23 July 2000, 40 people died at Afrokpe near Sapele, Delta State, with another 15 persons the next day in a second blast. Then November 30, 2000, about 60 people died when a damaged pipeline exploded near Lagos. Total of six pipeline fire in 2000 alone! November 15, 2001, 15 people died in a fire caused by an oil leak at Umudike, Imo State; but in the whole of 2002, there was no such tragedy. Then June 19, 2003, 125 people died by a pipeline explosion in Ovim, Abia State. September 16, 2004, 60 people died in pipeline blast in the outskirts of Lagos; and December 22, 2004, 27 persons died as villagers scooped fuel from a damaged pipeline at Ilado near Lagos. May 30, 2005, a pipeline burst into flames after a gang tapped into it to illegally siphon off fuel in the town of Awokan, killing six persons. December 20, 2005, militants blew up a Royal Dutch Shell pipeline, about 50 kilometres southwest of the Southern oil centre of Port Harcourt, killing 8 people. Then May 12, 2006, about 200 people were reportedly burnt alive in an inferno at a beach near Lagos; same May 12, 2006, a ruptured gas pipeline ignited, killing villagers collecting fuel in the southern village of Ilado, Lagos. It was estimated that the total number of people that died in that inferno was more than 200.
December 26, 2006, a day after Christmas, it was reported that hundreds of persons were killed by fire as a pipeline exploded in Abule Egba, Lagos. It was alleged that some of the victims of that sad incident were in festive attire, celebrating a boxing day as a Christmas holiday. One year after, another December 25, 2007, Christmas day proper, 47 people were reported to have died at a village near Ikate on Atlas Cove, Mosimi line in Iru Council of Lagos State. Between 2008 and 2018, records of pipeline fire are being verified for compilation, but the above history of pipeline fires in Nigeria is shocking enough. It is needful that urgent and prompt attention should be given to cases of pipeline leakages reported by indigenes of rural communities, by appropriate authorities, without waiting for disasters to occur. The tendency to associate broken or leaking pipelines to oil bunkering or sabotage, and perhaps suspect villagers in such vicinity as being responsible for any illegality, may not always be the case. While illegality and sabotage may not be ruled out in cases of damage to pipelines, what should demand immediate attention and action, is to ensure that fire which can put human lives in jeopardy, does not erupt from leaking pipelines.
With the most recent incident in Omoku (ONELGA) as a case study, the observation has been that rapid response and action rarely follow reports or alarm about a leaking pipeline. It is a sad habit to consider the status or outward appearance of a messenger first, before considering what importance to attach to the message being conveyed. Neither must a village woman who saw crude oil gushing out from the soil as she was harvesting cassava in her farm, be accused of bursting a pipeline with her hoe! Even when cases of oil spill are reported from the grassroots and channelled through a local government chairman or any public notary, there is always a tendency to bring some politics into such matter. Such political twist comes in the form of recriminations and accusations about collaborations by local indigenes in illegality of oil thieves. People of the Niger Delta region have had enough of sad experiences of natural resources that should have been a blessing to them. Rather, they suffer in silence.
It is sad to observe that in the past 25 years, apart from cases of pipeline fire disasters and increasing terrorism, banditry and gangsterism, land-grabbing is another looming disaster in the Niger Delta region. A Land Use Decree of 1969, may have been necessitated by a strategy to win the Nigeria Civil War (1967 – 1970), under a military regime. As Land Use Act by a democratic federal government, all land in the states remains vested under authority of state Governors. What we find in Rivers State, for instance, is a situation where real estate developers are creating looming crises in communities, with land belonging to families being acquired and sold through means and agents that rarely mean well. It is needful that Rivers State government should give urgent attention to this phenomenon of land acquisition through means akin to gangsterism, to say the least. The situation has come to the point of describing the phenomenon as land-grabbing, whereby communal and family lands are being shared and sold at prices and terms determined by speculators. Surely, the situation is tense in some communities, neither should the possible future consequences of land sales be ignored.
Pipelines bearing and conveying mineral oil products pass through various communities in the Niger Delta areas of Nigeria. The Petroleum Industry Act has not addressed all the plight and concerns of communities which bear the harsh brunt of the oil industry. Let not politics and economics of greed make the plight of oil-producing communities worse by exposing them to looming hazards, ranging from fire and death, to animosities in communities.

By: Bright Amirize
Bright Amirize is a retired lecturer from Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.

Opinion

Agony In Ivory Tower

Published

2 days ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

Quote: A university that tolerates missing scripts, result manipulation and ‘sorting’ is not merely failing students—it is quietly destroying the moral foundation of education itself.”

The sad cases of missing scripts, compulsory Sorting, inputting of wrong results and other obnoxious practices in some public universities, leave much to be desired. One cannot imagine how a student will be compelled to suffer consequences of the flagrant negligence of a Head of Department, a lecturer, Department staff or an ICT staff.Many academic and non academic staff in several public universities seem to be performing far below standard, thus unproductive to the university system. The unacceptable cases of sorting, missing scripts, missing results, inputting of wrong grades to students, should not be mentioned in a university, not even in any academic community. This is because people who are employed to work in various positions should have cognate work experience and unquestionable competence. They should not be seen as certificate welding illiterates but people who have been proven to be worthy in learning and character, diligent and competent to carry out assigned responsibilities with minimal or no supervision.

The university as a citadel of learning should boast of men of integrity, people who are repositories of applied knowledge and competence to drive the much desired holistic development in a nation that functions on quality teaching and learning. A situation where a student having gone through the crucibles of learning and written a prescribed semester examination or class-based evaluation test, is told that his or her script is missing or that he or she did not participate in that academic exercise, or must sort to pass, is an unpardonable error and a height of callousness. In fact some lecturers and staff of Departments are using the seeming systemic defect (which is their architecture) as an opportunity to extort students. Sometimes it is discovered much to students chagrin that the supposed missing script was later discovered when a ransom was paid.

Since a lecturer, or Head of Department has in their disposal both Yam and the knife and determines who takes what (if they wish to give without strings), students have no alternative but to submit to their importunate demands in order to graduate at record time.Such practices should be unheard of in an institution that should be a vanguard of moral and ethical values and conduct. What people learn in school constitute their behavioural patterns in the society. Where the school as an agency of socialisation cannot drive positive change first in its immediate environment, then the objective of education as a bedrock for the development of society, is inevitably compromised and counter-productive. The German Reformer, Dr. Martins Luther was quoted as saying, “I advise parents not to put their wards or children in any school where the Bible is not being used as a rule of life because such institutions will unnecessarily be corrupt”.

Gleaning from Luther’s sentiment one can deduce that the lack of respect and regard for values as well as the absence of the fear of God is the greatest undoing of most public schools. Another major challenge is that lack of Information, Communication and Technology literacy or compliance on the part of some lecturers and heads of department, may have informed the decision to give students’ scripts to secretaries to compile and input students results thereby making the secretaries the determinants of students’ fate. It is not saying a new thing that some of the secretaries in the process of compiling results have inputted wrong results, omitted names or down graded some students or given unmerited grades to others.Society today is ICT-driven and ICT-literacy enhances efficiency, speed and a reasonable degree of accuracy if the person behind the computer is level headed, articulate, competent, alive to responsibilities and is aware that negligence on his or her part is not only tantamount to a disservice to the university but to the students who may not graduate at record time because of his or her (computer operator’s) gross ineptitude or carelessness.

The ICT era makes the carrying of hard copy of results obsolete as lecturers through the Heads of Department can log on to the central server of the Exams and Records (if any) or ICT unit and input students’ results directly. By so doing the incessant cases where result on spread sheet is different from the one published online, more often than not, caused by abject negligence, will be avoided. The process will also end the intermediary services of some staff in the universities’ Information, Communication and Technology Department which has become a money spinner-a lucrative source of income to many of them. In fact some ICT staff reserved the power to award grades to students depending on students’ degree of compliance to terms and conditions. They can dubiously make or unmake a student. The university community should be considered too lofty to have careless, negligent, immoral and academic or professionally deficient people as academic or non-academic staff.

The Governing Councils and Senates of universities should be proactive in addressing the menace of missing Script, inputting of wrong results and sorting. This is necessary to end the slogan “Education is scam” so the system can produce quality students who are truly found worthy in learning and in character by operators who exemplify diligence, moral and ethical values. The much-needed reform must begin within the institutions themselves, because the future of any society is shaped in its classrooms.

By: Igbiki Benibo

Opinion

Strength of Emotional Equality

Published

2 days ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

Quote: “Love thrives not when one gives more, but when both give fully — not in competition, not in performance, but in partnership.”

In every healthy relationship, there exists an invisible balance. It is not measured in grand gestures, expensive gifts, or public displays of affection. It is measured in something quieter and far more significant: emotional equality. When couples stand on equal emotional grounds, love becomes less of a negotiation and more of a partnership. Emotional equality does not mean both individuals express love in identical ways. It does not require matching personalities or mirroring temperaments. Rather, it speaks to balance — a shared willingness to invest, to communicate, to be vulnerable, and to grow. It is the difference between two people walking side by side and one person constantly trying to catch up.

In many relationships, imbalance begins subtly. One partner initiates most conversations. One apologizes more frequently. One carries the emotional labor — remembering important dates, managing conflicts, sensing tension, and attempting reconciliation. Over time, this uneven distribution of emotional effort breeds exhaustion. The partner who gives more begins to feel unseen. The one who gives less may grow comfortable in emotional passivity. Love, in such a space, starts to tilt — slowly at first, then significantly. Resentment can creep in quietly, disguising itself as patience. Silence may replace honest dialogue. What once felt effortless begins to feel heavy.

When couples stand on equal emotional grounds, responsibility is shared. Both people are accountable for the health of the relationship. If conflict arises, neither hides behind silence nor dominates through control. Instead, they engage. They listen. They speak honestly without weaponizing words. Equality creates safety — and safety strengthens intimacy. It allows both individuals to express needs without fear of ridicule or rejection. One of the most overlooked aspects of emotional equality is vulnerability. True connection requires courage. It demands that both partners risk being misunderstood. But when vulnerability is one-sided, it becomes exposure rather than intimacy. If one person consistently opens up while the other remains guarded, trust cannot fully deepen.

Equality ensures that emotional risks are mutual. Where one shares fears, the other shares too. Where one admits weakness, the other responds with openness rather than judgment. In such a space, authenticity flourishes. Another crucial element is validation. In emotionally balanced relationships, both partners feel heard. Their concerns are not dismissed as “overreactions.” Their feelings are not minimized or compared. When couples operate on equal emotional ground, they acknowledge each other’s experiences as legitimate. They may not always agree, but they always respect. Validation does not mean surrendering one’s viewpoint; it means recognizing that another’s emotional reality matters.

Equality also protects individuality. Contrary to popular belief, healthy love does not erase personal identity — it enhances it. When both partners are emotionally secure, they do not feel threatened by each other’s independence. Personal ambitions are encouraged, not resented. Friendships are respected, not restricted. Growth is celebrated, not feared. Standing on equal emotional grounds means neither person shrinks to accommodate the other. Instead, both expand, knowing the relationship is strong enough to hold their evolution. Power dynamics often expose emotional inequality. When one partner controls communication — appearing and disappearing unpredictably, withholding affection, or using silence as leverage — imbalance emerges.

Emotional dominance weakens intimacy. It creates anxiety instead of assurance. But when couples share emotional power, there is consistency. There is clarity. There is no need to decode affection because it is offered freely and intentionally. It is important to understand that equality does not imply perfection. Couples will still disagree. They will face stress, miscommunication, and moments of frustration. However, when emotional footing is equal, conflict does not threaten the foundation. Instead, it becomes an opportunity for understanding. Both partners approach challenges as teammates rather than opponents. They choose resolution over ego and repair over pride.

Time often reveals whether emotional equality truly exists. In the early stages of love, intensity can disguise imbalance. Enthusiasm feels mutual. Effort appears equal. But as routine settles in and novelty fades, the structure of the relationship becomes clearer. Who still initiates? Who still invests? Who still shows up consistently? Sustainable love requires sustained balance. It is built not merely on attraction, but on deliberate reciprocity. Standing on equal emotional grounds requires intentionality. It demands honest conversations about needs and expectations. It requires both partners to examine their habits — whether they withdraw during tension, avoid accountability, or rely on the other to carry the emotional weight. Emotional maturity is not about avoiding conflict; it is about handling it responsibly and returning, again and again, to shared ground.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of emotional equality is peace. There is no constant anxiety about where one stands. No guessing games about commitment. No fear that affection may suddenly disappear. Instead, there is stability. There is reassurance. There is mutual effort. In a world where relationships often blur the lines between attention and commitment, equality offers clarity. It reminds us that love should not feel like competition or performance. It should feel like partnership. When couples stand on equal emotional grounds, they build something resilient. They build trust that does not fracture easily. They build respect that does not depend on mood. They build a connection rooted not only in passion but in balance. And in that balance, love finds its strength — not in who gives more, but in how both give fully.

By: Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi

Opinion

NDDC: Time To Illuminate Homes

Published

1 week ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Quote:“Twenty-five years on, the Niger Delta cannot celebrate illuminated streets while families sit in darkness. Development must begin inside the home — where children study, businesses grow, and lives are built — before it glows on the roadside.”

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was established in 2000 with a clear and urgent mandate: to facilitate the rapid, even, and sustainable development of Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta region. The creation of the Commission followed decades of agitation over environmental degradation, infrastructural neglect, and socio-economic marginalization in the region. Its core mandate included the development of roads, bridges, electricity, water supply, health facilities, education, housing, environmental remediation, and economic empowerment initiatives. At inception, expectations were high that the Commission would transform the Niger Delta into a model of regional development. Over the years, the NDDC has indeed implemented numerous projects across the nine Niger Delta states. Roads have been constructed and rehabilitated in several communities, easing transportation challenges.

Schools have been renovated, and new classroom blocks have been provided in underserved areas. Health centres have been built or upgraded, improving access to primary healthcare services. The Commission has also awarded scholarships to students, including foreign postgraduate scholarships, empowering thousands of youths academically.Skills acquisition and youth empowerment programmes have helped many young people gain vocational competencies.Through various interventions, the NDDC has contributed to job creation and local economic stimulation.Solar-powered street lighting projects have been widely implemented in urban and semi-urban communities. These streetlights have improved visibility at night and contributed to enhanced security in some areas. Markets, highways, and public spaces illuminated by solar lights have experienced extended business hours.

For these efforts, the Commission deserves acknowledgment and commendation. However, development must always align with foundational mandates and pressing grassroots realities. A growing concern among residents is that while streets are illuminated, many homes remain in darkness. Rural electrification and household power access remain inconsistent and inadequate across large parts of the region. In riverine and remote communities, families still rely on generators, kerosene lamps, or complete darkness after sunset. The irony of brightly lit streets juxtaposed with powerless homes cannot be ignored. Electricity at the household level directly impacts education, health, and small-scale enterprise. Students cannot effectively study at night without reliable indoor lighting.Families cannot preserve food or power essential appliances without stable electricity.

Micro and small businesses struggle to grow without dependable energy access. While street lighting enhances public aesthetics and security, it does not substitute for domestic electrification. The proverb “charity begins at home” is especially relevant in this context. True community development must first empower households before beautifying public spaces. The Commission’s original mandate emphasizes integrated and sustainable development, not isolated infrastructural gestures. Balanced development requires that energy interventions prioritize homes alongside streets. Solar technology presents a unique opportunity for decentralized household electrification in off-grid communities. Extending solar solutions to individual homes would have a transformative social impact. Home-based solar systems could power lights, fans, small appliances, and communication devices.

Such interventions would reduce poverty, improve living standards, and stimulate grassroots productivity. By broadening its energy focus, the Commission would better reflect the spirit of its founding legislation. This is not a call to abandon street lighting projects, which have their merits. Rather, it is an appeal for balance, inclusivity, and alignment with core developmental objectives. Strategic planning should ensure that rural electrification and household access form a central pillar of ongoing interventions. Community engagement and needs assessments can help determine priority areas for household solar deployment. Twenty-five years after its establishment, the NDDC stands at a reflective moment in its institutional journey. The people of the Niger Delta say: thank you for the efforts so far—but not very much—because true appreciation will come when development begins at home and radiates outward, not merely when streets shine while houses remain in darkness.

By: King Onunwor