The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has addressed concerns over a fire at its Port Harcourt Refinery, stating that the incident was a routine flare and not an explosion, as speculated online.
On Wednesday, a video circulated on social media showing a fire at the refinery, with one individual suggesting that the facility “almost exploded” at approximately 11:45 a.m.
The footage led to widespread alarm, especially given the ongoing political instability in Rivers State and previous cases of pipeline explosions in the region.
In response, NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi O. Soneye, issued a statement refuting the claims of an explosion.
He assured the public that the fire was a controlled flare, which had been safely managed.
“The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has refuted reports of an explosion at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) in Rivers State,” Soneye emphasized.
NNPC’s statement seeks to ease public concerns and reinforce confidence in the refinery’s operations.