It is in the coastal River State and has dispatched a team to investigate, Spokesperson Tony Okonedo said.

The Trans Niger Pipeline, which has a capacity of around 450 000 barrels per day, is a major oil artery that transports crude from onshore oilfields to the Bonny export terminal.

The consortium, which includes Nigerian exploration and production companies Aradel Energy, First E & P, Waltersmith, and ND Western, along with the international energy group Petroline, now operates Shell's former onshore subsidiary in Nigeria.

Okonedo said a joint investigation team has been sent to the site without providing further details.

Local environmental group Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) said the blast occurred on Monday night in the Bodo community of Gokana local government area in Rivers state.

--Reuters--