The Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) Nigeria has called for an independent and scientific investigation into the recent crude oil pipeline explosion in the Owaza community of Ukwa West Local Government Area, Abia State.

The organisation said the explosion, which destroyed farmlands, homes and livestock, has once again highlighted the serious environmental, public health and safety risks associated with Nigeria's aging oil and gas infrastructure.

The demand was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by FENRAD's Executive Director, Nelson Nnanna Nwafor.

The group urged authorities to immediately constitute a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) involving representatives of the Federal Ministry of Environment, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Abia State Ministry of Environment, the pipeline operator, community representatives, independent environmental experts and civil society organisations.

According to FENRAD, the Joint Investigation Visit is necessary to determine the exact cause of the explosion, evaluate the level of environmental contamination, assess the socio-economic impact on affected communities and recommend appropriate remediation and compensation measures.

"Such a Joint Investigation Visit is critical to establish the precise cause of the explosion, determine the extent of environmental contamination, assess socio-economic impacts on affected communities, and recommend appropriate remediation and compensation measures," the statement said.

The organisation maintained that host communities should no longer bear the heavy environmental consequences of deteriorating oil and gas infrastructure.

While commending the Abia State Government for visiting the affected areas, FENRAD also called for a comprehensive Pipeline Integrity Assessment (PIA) covering the entire pipeline corridor passing through Owaza and neighbouring communities.

It said the assessment should include corrosion evaluation, wall thickness testing, hydrostatic pressure testing where necessary, leak detection system evaluation, geotechnical stability assessment and a comprehensive risk analysis to determine the operational safety of the pipeline.

FENRAD further stated that residents of the affected communities deserve prompt environmental restoration, full disclosure of investigation findings and adequate compensation for all verified losses.

The group also urged regulatory agencies to strengthen oversight and enforce strict compliance with pipeline integrity management programmes across Nigeria's oil-producing communities.