Nigeria, Nov. 12 -- Two petroleum pipeline explosions that killed 18 people between June and July happened because the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was "negligent", a Senate committee said Tuesday after investigating the blasts.

The deadly explosions occurred in Rivers and Lagos States after leaked petrol caught fire as residents tried to scoop the inflammable liquid.

The explosion at Komkom area of Rivers State on June 22 killed 10 people while another blast in Ijegun area of Lagos on July 4 claimed eight lives.

A Senate ad-hoc report said its investigation that lasted three months showed the explosions were avoidable but NNPC "chose to be negligent."

The committee also blamed the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company Ltd...