The Trans Niger Pipeline has been fully restored and is now operating normally after a blast ruptured it last week.
The pipeline, which has a capacity of about 450,000 barrels per day, is one of two major conduits exporting Bonny Light crude from Nigeria.
The explosion, which occurred in Bodo community, Gokana Local Government Area, was among the reasons cited by President Bola Tinubu for declaring an emergency in Rivers State and removing the governor and state assembly.
Police said two individuals were arrested in connection with the incident.
The blast came amid heightened political tensions in Rivers, Nigeria’s third-largest oil-producing state. The crisis escalated when lawmakers loyal to former governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, attempted to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The feud, ongoing since 2023, intensified last week when the Supreme Court ruled that Fubara must recognize all 30 lawmakers, including 27 aligned with Wike.
According to Reuters, Renaissance Group spokesperson Tony Okonedo said oil output through the pipeline was temporarily rerouted to an alternative line after the March 19 blast. Renaissance Group, a consortium of five companies, now owns Shell’s former onshore subsidiary that operates the pipeline.
Last week, Punch quoted a company spokesperson as saying “there was not no blasts or explosions in our facilities. We had an unauthorised entry from the operations.” The source said the pipeline had long continued to function.
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