Equipment of water drillers has punctured a gas pipeline in Enugu, sparking off a huge fire, which has engulfed parts of the state, according to Nigeria’s National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA).
Idris Musa, Director-General of NOSDRA, who confirmed the incident, first reported by the News Agency of Nigeria, said the gas eruption was caused by water drilling activities which hit a gas reservoir, adding that emergency response efforts were underway to avert disaster from the incident.
“There is a natural gas problem at a borehole drilling point at Caritas University, Emene-Enugu. In the course of drilling very deep to reach the aquifer, the drilling hit the gas level.
“The Chief Executive of Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has been notified. The Zonal Head of National Emergency Management Agency has secured the assistance of both Federal and State Fire Services. Efforts are ongoing to secure more technical assistance to bring the situation under control,” he was quoted as saying.
