Egypt extends condolences to Nigeria over victims of oil refinery explosion

CAIRO – 26 April 2022: Egypt has expressed its sincere condolences to Nigeria over the victims of an explosion in an oil refinery in the south of the country, which killed and injured scores of people.

“The government and people of Egypt also offer their sincere condolences to the government and people of the Republic of Nigeria and to the families of the victims,” a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs read.

The ministry wished a speedy recovery to all those injured during the explosion and stressed standing by Nigeria in this tragic incident.

More than 100 people were killed when an explosion occurred at an illegal oil refinery on the border of Nigeria's Rivers and Imo states, according to Reuters. Women and children are among the deaths.

A similar incident occurred in October when an explosion took place in an illegal refinery in Rivers State, a top oil producing area in Nigeria, killing 25 people.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has deemed the incident as a “catastrophe,” vowing in a statement to intensify the crackdown on illegal refineries in the country.