Rivers
How Kerosene Explosion Killed 2 Sisers In Rumuji
The first day of January commonly referred to as the New Year Day is always viewed as a special day hence several social activities and celebrations take place as a way of welcoming the new year.
But as wicked fate may have it, it was on this special day this year that a kerosene explosion chose to occurred in the home of Mr and Mrs Okogbule in Rumuji, Emohua Local Government killing their two beloved daughters.
The Tide gathered that the incident took place at 11p.m the girls, Beauty 12 and her sister Rejoice had winded up celebration of the day and retired to their room for night rest.
Beauty had made to refill their lantern with kerosene as Power Holding Company of Nigeria had taken light and quite unexpectedly the lantern exploded.
An eye witness who narrated the incident to The Tide said immediately the explosion occurred, Beauty’s dress caught fire which later extended to her other sister (Rejoice). Before help could get to them, they had been badly burnt.
The following day being Sunday, Beauty, 12 and JSS I student of Ojims College Rumuji died. Two days later, the other victim Miss Rejoice Okogbule, 8 and primary 3 pupil also of Ojims School who was rushed to the hospital, also died.
Not just the Okogbule’s home alone, neighbours and well-wishers grieved for such unfortunate incident.
Mother of the deceased girls was said to have made several attempts to plunge herself into a nearby Well but for the intervention of close neighbours.
When The Tide eventually met Mrs. Okogbule, one of the parents on Saturday, she said it was quite a heartbreaking incident to the home.
“It was something mysterious. It still looks like dream to me because I still can’t understand but my brother, my two little angles went just like that,” she said.
But what could have caused such a midnight inferno? Some people believe that there could have been a mixture of kerosene with petrol.
“Since the sources of purchase of kerosene in the community are the hawkers and black marketers. Maybe there was a mixture of little quantity of petrol with kerosene at a point or I don’t know,” volunteered one of the kerosene sellers in the area.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed expired and substandard products worth N2.6 million in Rivers State to protect public health.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC’s Director-General, disclosed this during the exercise held at Iriebe, Rivers State last Friday.
Adeyeye, represented by Dr Martins Iluyomade, an investigative and destruction officer, said the products included expired tomato paste, medicines, chemicals and other regulated items.
She said the products were either seized by the agency or voluntarily surrendered by their owners for destruction.
Adeyeye commended the Nigeria Customs Service for facilitating the handover of the seized products, describing inter-agency collaboration as crucial to preventing harmful goods from reaching consumers.
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She said the partnership was strengthened by an existing Memorandum of Understanding between both agencies.
Iluyomade, who is also Chairman of the Federal Taskforce on Fake and Unwholesome Regulated Products, said the displayed items represented only part of the consignment.
He said other containers were still being processed for release from the port, urging the Customs Service to expedite the process.
According to him, the process leading to the destruction exercise took almost two weeks and increased operational costs.
Iluyomade called for stronger cooperation among security agencies, stressing that intelligence sharing and public support were essential to combating counterfeit medicines and unsafe food products.
He urged Nigerians to report suspected fake products through NAFDAC’s established channels rather than publicising them prematurely, which could alert suspects and frustrate investigations. prematurely, which could alert suspects and frustrate investigations.
He said the agency had offices in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), adding that it was intensifying nationwide operations against illegal factories and counterfeit products.
Mr Chukwuma Oligbu, NAFDAC Zonal Director, South-South said the exercise was part of the agency’s responsibility to ensure that food, drugs, cosmetics, water and other regulated products met safety standards.
Oligbu, represented by Mrs Rita Chukwuma, Deputy Director in the zone, said destroying the products would prevent expired and substandard goods from entering markets.
He commended security agencies for supporting efforts to remove unsafe products from circulation.
Also, Comptroller Aliyu Alkali, the Customs Area Controller, Port Harcourt Area II Command, Onne, reaffirmed the service’s support for NAFDAC’s campaign.NAFDAC’s campaign.
Alkali, represented by Mrs Abosede Elizabeth, Superintendent of Customs in the command’s enforcement unit, said harmful products exposed Nigerians to serious health risks.
He urged relevant agencies to sustain collaboration to prevent dangerous goods from reaching communities.
Similarly, Mr Ahmed Zaccah, representing the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), also commended NAFDAC for destroying counterfeit and substandard products seized at the ports.
Zaccah said the exercise would help prevent Nigerian ports from becoming dumping grounds for harmful goods while restoring confidence in legitimate businesses.
He pledged the association’s continued collaboration with NAFDAC and urged importers and clearing agents to comply with regulations and uphold professional standards.
The King of Eleme Kingdom in Rivers State, His Royal Highness Emere Dr. Philip Osaro Obele, has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) to address the catastrophe caused by a major gas pipeline explosion in the area.
The incident, which occurred around 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, destroyed several residential buildings and vehicles while leaving multiple residents with varying degrees of injuries.
Expressing deep frustration over the ordeal, the traditional ruler lamented that despite host communities in Eleme serving as home to critical national economic assets, such as oil refineries, petrochemical plants, and fertilizer factories, the people continue to bear the brunt of severe environmental degradation and neglect..
King Obele noted that prior warnings were repeatedly raised regarding unusual sounds emanating from the aging pipeline infrastructure before the eventual explosion occurred.
The royal father strongly urged the energy company and relevant authorities to immediately initiate cleanup efforts, assist affected families, and replace deteriorating pipelines to avert recurring disasters.
He warned that if NGC fails to take concrete action within the 24-hour window, community members will embark on massive peaceful protests to register their grievances before the Federal Government and the global community.
While an official technical investigation is yet to determine the exact cause and financial value of the destruction, the monarch emphasized that the safety and welfare of his people must no longer be compromised for economic exploitation.
By: Enoch Epelle
Rivers State University (RSU), Port Harcourt, has appointed a new professor of Strategic and Corporate Communication, with Dike Harcourt Whyte attaining the professorial rank in recognition of his contributions to teaching, research, postgraduate supervision, academic administration and professional communication practice.
The Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Rivers State University, Prof. Barigbon G. Nsereka, disclosed this recently in a statement to the Press in Port Harcourt.
He described Whyte as a scholar, administrator and communication practitioner whose career has combined academic scholarship with practical experience in strategic communication and institutional public relations.
According to the statement, Professor Whyte teaches in the Department of Public Relations and Advertising, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, where he has taught and supervised students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
The statement said Whyte obtained his first degree in Communication Arts from the University of Uyo and later earned his master’s degree and doctorate in Business and Organisational Communication from the same university.
It further stated that he had served as Head of the Department of Cinematography and Broadcast Studies and Head of the Department of Public Relations and Advertising at Rivers State University.
According to the statement, Whyte also served as the university’s Public Relations Officer from 2019 to 2022, during which he managed the institution’s communication and relations with the media and other stakeholders.
It added that he had served as President of the university’s Senior Staff Club and in several other capacities within the institution.
The statement said Professor Whyte, who publishes as H. W. Dike, has more than 70 scholarly publications to his credit, including Strategic Communication in a Developing Economy, Communication in Africa: Theories, Systems, and Practices, Strategic Silence and Foundations of Film and Broadcast Studies.
According to the statement, his scholarly interests centre on strategic and virtual communication, with emphasis on communication practices and challenges within Nigerian and African environments.
The statement further disclosed that Whyte chaired the Local Organising Committee of the 13th All Nigeria Universities Debate Championship hosted by Rivers State University from September 6 to 13, 2026.
It said the championship brought together student debaters from universities across the country for intellectual engagement, public speaking, critical reasoning and effective communication.
Beyond the university, the statement said Professor Whyte is the Chief Consultant of McLuhan Consulting Limited, a communication consultancy where he applies his academic expertise to practical communication challenges.
The statement quoted Professor Whyte as saying that a professorship was “not a destination” but “a larger classroom”, adding that his task was to raise communicators capable of telling Africa’s story with skill, evidence and integrity.
By: King Onunwor