A series of barge explosions on February 19, 2025, has resulted in significant pollution in fishing communities near Cawthorne Channel 1 and Alakiri Kulama in Rivers State.
According to a preliminary report by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), communities such as Ayo-Tamuno, Miebaka, and others nearby may have been impacted.
The explosions occurred on barges laden with crude oil, including the BESTAF5 dry crude storage barge, the Goshen Link fuel barge, and the Godgift fuel barge.
NIMASA’s accident investigation team has collected samples from the incident site and confirmed a visible oil film covering a large portion of the water surface.
NIMASA’s Director General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to maintaining cleaner waters within Nigeria’s maritime domain.
“We will work closely with other relevant government agencies and host communities to manage the environmental impact of this incident,” he stated.
The agency has conducted multiple site visits and will continue to investigate the incident to determine both the immediate and underlying causes of the explosion.
Dr. Mobereola emphasized that pollution prevention remains NIMASA’s top priority in safeguarding Nigeria’s marine environment.
