Abia Blames 70-Year-Old Pipeline for Owaza Explosion The Abia State Government has attributed the pipeline explosion that occurred in Umuololo community, Owaza, in Ukwa West Local Government Area, to an ageing petroleum pipeline believed to have been laid about 70 years ago. The pipeline, part of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11, reportedly exploded at about 1:30 a.m. on Monday, triggering a major oil spill that affected homes, farms, schools, shops and livestock in the community. A delegation from the state government, led by the Commissioner for Environment, Philemon Asonye Ogbonna, and the Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Professor Joel Ogbonna, visited the affected area to assess the extent of the damage. The officials expressed concern over the environmental impact of the incident on residents, noting that several buildings and other properties were severely damaged. They, however, confirmed that no lives were lost in the explosion. Speaking during the inspection, P...