News

Petrol Sale Resumes In Rivers …Cause Of Scarcity Resolved

Published

14 years ago

July 3, 2012

The Rivers State Petroleum Products Monitoring Task Force has assured that normal sale of petrol has been restored in filling stations in the state.

Chairman of the task force, Fobo Fiberesima gave the assurance Monday while speaking to newsmen after three days of fuel scarcity in Port Harcourt.

Said he: “The present fuel situation in the state is due to power failure at the Port Harcourt Refinery, and I wish to inform the public that there is normalcy now and that there is power at the loading point at the moment. I have seen some movement of trucks.”

Fiberesima also said the task force would monitor the sale of petroleum products in all filling stations.

Similarly, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) noted that poor power supply at the Port Harcourt Refinery was responsible for the recent fuel scarcity in the state.

Its chairman, Sunny Mkpeh told The Tide that loading of petroleum products commenced last Monday after the issue was rectified.

“Apparently, what is causing the petroleum scarcity was have now is because in the past few days, there has been a fault at the Port Harcourt Refinery gas turbine, which has been rectified by yesterday (Sunday).

“As I talk to you now, full loading has commenced and the depot in working now, “so. May be, by the end of today and tomorrow (Monday and Tuesday), normal sales will resume,” he said.

The IPMAN chairman also advised the government to intervene in the situation at the Port Harcourt Refinery to ensure it works at optimum capacity.

“At this moment, we call on the state Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to please intervene, talk to NNPC and the Federal Government to make crude oil available to the refinery so that we can run and put permanent end to this problem of perennial scarcity of petroleum products and have enough AGO, PMS and DPK.”

He also advised petroleum marketers against selling the product above the pump price of N97.00

Meanwhile, motorists in Port Harcourt have lamented the stress they have been passing through before buying fuel from filling stations since the last weekend.

Some of the motorists, who spoke to The Tide, said they were forced to remain in long queens at filling stations due to the scarcity of fuel in most filling stations.

Some filling station managers, interviewed, however, attributed the scarcity to panic buyers who speculated an increase in the pump price of petrol.

They said there was no increase in the pump price of fuel, adding that there was no plan to increase the pump price of fuel.

Corroborating the views of the petroleum products monitoring task force chairman and IPMAN, the managers said “the fuel scarcity at the weekend was due to power failure at the Port Harcourt Refinery.

The problem has been rectified and we have started normal loading today (Monday). We don’t know where they got their information that we are not loading and that there will be price increase, they said.

Corroborating the state government’s position, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), blamed the fuel scarcity in Port Harcourt on power failure at the Port Harcourt Refinery.

The IPMAN Chairman, Mr Sunny Nkpe, said in an interview in Port Harcourt yesterday, that the turbines at the refinery developed a fault, a development which led to the disruption of products loading.

Nkpe, however said the problem had been rectified and that the refinery had resumed loading of products.

“The depot is working now. I think, by end of today and tomorrow, these queues would disappear.

“We call on the state government to please intervene and talk to NNPC and Federal Government to make crude oil available to the refinery so that we can run and put permanent end to this perennial scarcity of all the products so that we can have AGO (Diesel), PMS (petrol).

“AGO is what drives the economy; DPK is what poor people use. So if there is no crude oil, the CDU plant would not run and when CDU plant does not run, there won’t be AGO, there won’t be DPK.”

Nkpe, however, condemned the arbitrary increase of the pump price of fuel, saying IPMAN was against it.

“We have compliant unit; this administration under me would not tolerate any member selling products above the approved pump price.

“So our members are well-briefed; they are well-packaged for this mission.

“Once all the products start coming out, of course, the public will see the delivery; it’s going to be efficient and effective.”

Shedie Okpara

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

5 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

5 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

5 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.