The Rivers State Indigenous Petroleum  Marketers Association (RSIPMA) has blamed  the consistent  increase  of  kerosene  explosions in residential areas in the state on continued patronage of adulterated kerosene.
Chairman of the association, Mr. Remaoba Obelengechu  made this known Friday, in a media chat in Port Harcourt.
Obelengechu, stated that though the adulterated kersone, popularly called “kpo fire”, comes cheaper than the original kerosene,  it was not reason enough for people to risk  their lives and property  and that of their loved ones and neighbours.
“If someone tells you this is original, N300, and this is “Kpo fire” (Niger Delta ), N100.00,. why will you buy the cheaper one to your detriment” he  asked, adding “so I put it to us that we are part of the problem, the explosions and all”.
Hinting on ways to indentify adulterated kerosene, Obelengechu, said, “the flammability nature of the adulterated kerosene is too high and we know spirits are very cold,  so dip your finger  into the adulterated  kerosene, you will  find it vey cold on your finger whereas the original product that is not spirited is hot on you”.
Lamenting on the  scarcity of petroleum  products in the state, the IPMA helmsman, noted that despite the 17 tank forms  in the state, the product was still difficult  to come by especially, to the indigenous filling station owners.
He stated that the association has taken a decision to approach  the Rivers State House of Assembly to enact a law setting a 20 per cent of all petroleum  stocks for Rivers  people.
According to him, “we are going to approach  the Rivers State House of Assembly, where they will enact it as a law,  owing to the Local Content Act of Nigeria as established in 2010, to set aside 20 per cent of all stocks  including  all NNPC Depots,  the 17 tank farms in Port Harcourt among  others, reservation for Rivers people.

Tonye Nri-Dappa