The Senator representing Rivers South-East senatorial district in the National Assembly, Bari Mpigi has said obsolete and ageing pipes were responsible for the explosion in Komkom town, Oyigbo local government area of Rivers State.
Mpigi, while speaking during plenary said that no pipeline should last more than 33 years.
According to him: “Mr President, distinguished colleagues, the pipeline explosion that happened in Rivers state is in my Senatorial district.
“The pipeline is a ‘System E’ pipeline that transmits oil from Rivers to Abia to Makurdi in Benue State.
“Experts have told us that no pipeline should last more 33 years, but those pipelines have been in place for over 50 years without replacement.”
He called on relevant regulatory bodies to excavate the ageing pipes and lay new ones.
He also urged the federal government to intervene in the humanitarian crisis in KomKom as a way of helping the people heal from the disaster.
