The Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action), a human and environmental rights-focused NGO, has expressed deep concern over the recent gas pipeline explosion in Aleto Community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The explosion occurred on Thursday, 15 October 2026, and caused injuries and extensive damage to homes, businesses and other property.
In a release made available to this publication released 22 October 2026, the organization noted the damages arising from the explosion, stressing that the incident demands urgent investigation by the government.
“Following visits to the community on 16 and 18 October, Social Action documented damage to residential buildings, a mechanic workshop, vehicles, shops, stalls and vegetation.
“Residents reported multiple casualties, but the total number of injured persons and the full extent of property and livelihood losses remain unknown,” part of the release stated.
Residents, it stated, “told Social Action that the pipeline had been leaking for more than two weeks before the incident. They described a persistent hissing sound, gas escaping from the ground and, on the morning of the explosion, gas bubbling through rainwater.
Residents also reported that personnel believed to be from NNPC had visited the area before the incident and marked off the affected section with caution tape
“Community members further reported that complaints and petitions had been submitted to government authorities, including the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), and that media houses had been invited to draw attention to the problem”.
According to the organization, the community accounts raise serious questions about what the responsible operator and relevant authorities knew about the reported leak, how the complaints were handled and what action followed the reported inspection.
“Social Action considers these questions central to establishing the circumstances of the explosion.
“If warnings were received before the incident, it is necessary to determine whether they were investigated promptly and whether appropriate measures were taken to protect residents and prevent escalation of the situation,” the release further stated.
It added, “The explosion has also exposed the vulnerability of people living and working close to oil and gas infrastructure. Social Action observed residential buildings situated very close to pipelines, alongside damaged homes and businesses.
Traders lost goods and working capital; workshops and other businesses were damaged; vegetation, cash and economic crops were affected. For households dependent on these activities, the losses threaten both immediate needs and their ability to earn a living.
“These are not merely property losses. They raise concerns about the protection of life and health, the safety of homes and livelihoods, and the responsibility of operators and public institutions to address risks that threaten nearby communities.
Environmental justice requires that affected residents receive clear information, that the harm they have suffered is properly documented, and that appropriate remedies are pursued”.
It acknowledged the emergency response that brought the fire under control on the day of the incident but noted that more needs to be done. “The community reported that Indorama’s fire service responded.
We also acknowledge the reported visit by the Managing Director of Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC) to the community on 17 October 2026.
These efforts are important. However, extinguishing the fire and visiting the community are only parts of the response. The cause of the explosion, the handling of the reported leak, the extent of the losses and the measures required to prevent a recurrence must still be addressed”.
The affected pipeline it stated, was identified during Social Action’s visit to Aleto on Sunday, 18 October 2026, as belonging to Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC), a subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd).
Social Action therefore calls on NGIC and its parent company, NNPC Ltd, NOSDRA, the Rivers State Ministry of Environment and other relevant authorities to:
- Conduct a thorough investigation into the explosion and reported prior leak. Establish the cause of the incident, the condition of the pipeline, what was known before the explosion and what action was taken in response to the reported leak and inspection.
- Account for the handling of community complaints. NOSDRA and every other agency that received complaints or petitions should disclose when they were received, what action was taken and the outcome. Any Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) report, if conducted, and other relevant investigation findings should be made public.
- Establish the full extent of casualties and losses. Document the number of injured persons and the damage to homes, businesses, vehicles, farms and other sources of livelihood. Affected residents should receive information on available medical assistance, compensation where applicable, and other avenues for appropriate remedy.
- Review pipeline safety in Aleto. Assess the proximity of residential buildings and businesses to the pipeline corridor, compliance with applicable safety requirements and the measures necessary to protect people living and working in the area. Immediate steps should be taken to secure any remaining hazards.
- Assess and address environmental harm. Determine whether the explosion caused contamination or other environmental damage and undertake appropriate assessment and remediation where harm is established. Findings and necessary follow-up measures should be communicated to the community.
The Aleto explosion must not be treated as an isolated emergency that ends once the fire is extinguished.
The reported leak and prior complaints make it necessary to examine not only what caused the explosion, but also whether the systems for detecting risks, responding to community concerns and protecting people living alongside pipelines worked as they should, the organization warned.
It called on the responsible institutions to act promptly, disclose their findings and ensure that affected residents are not left to bear the losses without appropriate support or a clear path to remedy.
The people of Aleto deserve answers, effective protection and concrete measures to prevent a recurrence.
