NEWS
NSCDC, IPL Sing Discordant Tunes on Okrika Pipeline Incident
There are conflicting reports emanating from Rivers State, with two stakeholders on the Okrika pipeline incident, sharing conflicting signals to the world.
On its part, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) revealed that four corpses had been sighted in connection with the incident, while Indorama Petrochemical Limited (IPL) washed its hands off, denying any link to the reported fatalities.
What is clear, however, is that on Saturday, there was an ugly incident at Jetty Creeks, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State which cost human lives, and has led to conflicting accounts over what caused the deaths and what the victims were doing at the time of the incident.
The NSCDC Rivers State Command, in an update issued by its spokesperson, Olufemi Ayodele, said its undercover team, after conducting further assessment and surveillance of the affected area, sighted four corpses believed to be connected to the incident.
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The command, however, stressed that the identities of the deceased and the circumstances surrounding their deaths were still being verified.
One of the victims was identified as Taribo Levia, whose remains had reportedly been buried according to traditional customs. Other persons reportedly sighted were Ogoloma Tamunoene Fred, Amiso and Belema Siyerminma from Ngabiri.
The command said earlier casualty figures circulating in the aftermath of the incident were not fully verified and might have been overstated.
It said it had commenced further investigation and information gathering with relevant stakeholders to determine the immediate and remote causes of the incident, establish the identities of all victims and ascertain whether anyone remained unaccounted for.
The NSCDC also warned residents against vandalism, unauthorised access to petroleum facilities, illegal tampering with pipelines and the dangerous practice of scooping petroleum products.
According to Ayodele, “The command notes that the initial casualty figures circulating in the aftermath of the incident were not fully verified and may have been overstated. The command is therefore relying on information obtained through its ongoing field assessment and investigation to establish the actual number of victims.
“The Rivers State Commandant noted that the NSCDC has commenced further investigation and information gathering in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to establish the immediate and remote causes of the incident, ascertain the identities of all victims and determine whether any persons remain unaccounted for,” Ayodele added.
But the management of Indorama, through Major Fidelis Akando (rtd.), Coordinator of Pipeline Surveillance in Indorama, dismissed reports linking the company or its facility to the deaths.
Akando, who spoke during an inspection of the area, said he had been stationed at the location since Monday in connection with the lifting of one of Indorama’s by-products, known as cracked C5, into a vessel.
He explained that stakeholders, including security agencies, had been mobilised for the operation and that there was heavy security presence around the jetty and pipeline corridor.
He said: “The distance between the petrochemical refinery and the jetty is about 7.5 kilometres and is covered by security personnel.”
He described as “embarrassing” and “very unfortunate” reports that between 37 and 40 people had died while allegedly scooping petroleum products from an Indorama pipeline.
Akando insisted that no such incident occurred within the facility or the area where he had been stationed since Monday.
He said while people had previously attempted to rupture pipelines carrying petroleum by-products, Indorama had neither authorised nor encouraged such activities.
“If a thief is injured in the course of stealing, will you blame the owner of the house?” he queried, stressing that the company had no connection with the alleged incident.
A visit to communities surrounding the NNPC jetty, in Okrika, also produced conflicting accounts.
Some residents denied witnessing any major fire outbreak or mass casualty in the area, although they acknowledged that people sometimes ventured into the waterways to collect petroleum products during loading operations.
However, residents in other parts of Okrika said some of the deceased were fishermen and had no involvement in illegal oil activities.
Residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that the victims were fishing around a creek near the Beat Four pipeline axis when the incident occurred.
They alleged that the victims inhaled a substance following an explosion and were unable to escape because of the movement of the water.
Arabibia Minanyo, whose husband was among those reported dead, said the incident occurred on Tuesday. She maintained that her husband was not involved in illegal oil activities and had since been buried according to the customs of the community.
The conflicting accounts have heightened calls for an independent and transparent investigation into the incident.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has challenged the Presidency to explain how Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) dividends were distributed among states and local governments, insisting that a reconciliation exercise identified a shortfall of about ₦9 trillion.
Makinde’s position was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, in response to the Presidency’s rejection of the governor’s earlier claims over NLNG dividend payments.
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The statement said the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), with the support of the Federal Government, engaged a consultant to reconcile NLNG dividend payments, adding that the exercise identified approximately ₦9 trillion allegedly due to states and local governments.
“The exercise identified a shortfall of about ₦9 trillion due to states and local governments. The Federal Government accepted the findings,” the statement said.
The governor maintained that the reconciliation report remained in the custody of both the Federal Government and the NGF.
“The report remains in the custody of both the Federal Government and the NGF. We trust the Presidency will not deny its existence,” the statement added.
The statement also noted that Makinde is the incumbent Vice-Chairman of the NGF.
Makinde Questions $21.5bn NLNG Dividend Payments
The governor questioned the Presidency’s statement that NLNG had paid $21.5 billion in dividends into the Federation Account since its inception, including $3 billion received under the current administration.
According to Makinde, the Presidency’s response did not explain how the payments were distributed or establish the amounts received by states and local governments.
“The Presidency stated that NLNG had paid $21.5 billion in dividends into the Federation Account since inception, including $3 billion received under the current administration. But it did not explain how these funds were disbursed,” the statement said.
The governor also questioned whether states and local governments had received their shares, how much they received and the basis for calculating their allocations.
“Have states and local governments received their shares? How much did they receive, and how were those amounts calculated? What happened to the $3 billion received under this administration?” the statement asked.
Makinde defended the figures he had previously cited, maintaining that his claims were based on verifiable information.
“Governor Makinde conducts public discourse with decorum and does not make unfounded claims or quote figures without a basis,” the statement said.
The governor maintained that he was ready to provide further clarification on the matter while urging the Presidency to address the substance of the allegations.
“We remain ready to provide further clarification while we urge the presidency to address the substance of the matter,” the statement added.
Recall that Biztellers had earlier reported the Presidency’s rejection of Makinde’s claim concerning NLNG dividends allegedly withheld from states and local governments.
The Presidency stated that NLNG had paid $21.5 billion in dividends into the Federation Account since its inception, including $3 billion received under the current administration.
However, in his latest response, Makinde argued that disclosing the total amount paid into the Federation Account did not address how the funds were distributed among the different tiers of government.
The governor is now demanding clarification on the distribution of the dividends and the findings of the reconciliation exercise that reportedly identified the ₦9 trillion shortfall.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has threatened to shut down Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike (AE-FUNAI), Ebonyi State, if the institution’s management fails to reverse the reported increase in school fees.
The association, in a press release dated Sunday, October 18, 2026, described the reported tuition increment as insensitive, unjustifiable and unacceptable, citing the economic difficulties confronting Nigerian students.
The statement was signed by the NANS President, Dist. Comr. Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, GCNS, who warned that the increase could frustrate the academic aspirations of countless students.
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“To be clear, education cannot be commercialised. Students cannot be made to pay for the financial challenges confronting our universities,” the statement read.
NANS acknowledged that universities require adequate funding but argued that their managements, particularly vice-chancellors, should explore innovative revenue-generating opportunities rather than impose additional financial burdens on students.
The association maintained that the Federal Government was investing heavily in education to keep students in school and ensure that access to education was not determined by their financial background or status.
NANS Gives University Management Conditions
The student body warned the vice-chancellor and the entire university management against policies capable of pushing students out of school.
It said the national leadership would not stand by while Nigerian students faced additional financial pressure that could threaten their academic futures.
“Going forward, we wish to make it clear to the Vice-Chancellor and the entire University Management that the National Leadership of NANS will not stand by while Nigerian students are subjected to policies capable of pushing them out of school,” the statement said.
NANS subsequently demanded an immediate reversal of the reported tuition increase and called on the university to restore fees to the affordable and reasonable levels that existed before the increment.
The association warned that failure to meet its demand would lead to a mobilisation of its national leadership to the institution.
“To this end, we call on the management of Alex Ekwueme Federal University to immediately reverse the reported tuition increment and return the fees to the affordable and reasonable level that existed before the increment. Otherwise, we will mobilise the National Secretariat of NANS to Alex Ekwueme Federal University and shut down the school until the fee is reversed,” the statement added.
NANS Reaffirms Commitment to Students
The association reiterated its commitment to defending the interests, welfare and aspirations of Nigerian students.
It pledged to continue speaking firmly against policies that place unnecessary and unbearable financial burdens on students.
NANS maintained that students should not be made to bear the financial challenges confronting universities and called on the management of AE-FUNAI to reverse the reported increase.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has handed over land titles to displaced residents of nine communities in Birnin Yero, Igabi Local Government Area, to enable them to rebuild their homes and regain shelter.
The Kaduna State Ministry of Information and Culture disclosed the development on Sunday, October 18, 2026, describing the exercise as an intervention aimed at helping displaced residents rebuild their homes.
According to the ministry, each beneficiary is being allocated a plot of land to support resettlement and provide shelter for affected residents.
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“ He is officially handing over land titles, giving each person a plot of land to rebuild their homes and regain shelter,” the ministry’s announcement stated.
The ministry also noted that Governor Sani had continued to support displaced communities across Kaduna State since assuming office.
The latest exercise focuses on nine communities in Igabi Local Government Area, with the allocation of land intended to help affected residents rebuild their homes and regain stability.
The development comes amid previous reports concerning land disputes and displacement affecting communities in Kaduna State.
In September 2026, reports indicated that the Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS) had resolved more than 5,000 land disputes and restored over 150 property titles.
The agency also reported that alternative plots had been provided to some communities affected by previous demolitions.
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