RSG Inaugurates Panel Of Inquiry On Fire Outbreaks

Rivers State Government has opened investigations into the causes of fire outbreaks in the state following the razing of the Bonny Jetty Port Harcourt, last Monday, the third incident in 72hours.
The state Commissioner for Special Duties, Emeka Onowu, who disclosed this to newsmen after inspection of the areas affected by fire in Port Harcourt, said Governor Nyesom Wike has directed that a panel of inquiry be inaugurated to probe the three fire incidents.
This is as the Federal Fire Service has fought 26 fire incidents (excluding Monday’s fire at Bonny-Bille-Nembe Jetty) in Port Harcourt and its environs from September to date with the loss of properties worth billions of naira.
It would be recalled that on Monday morning, there was fire outbreak at the newly commissioned Bonny-Bille-Nembe Jetty in Port Harcourt.
Sources alleged that the inferno started around 10:35am following a spark in one of the boats carrying drums of illegally refined fuel (Kpofire) around the jetty.
This happened barely 24hours after Zenith Bank building in Port Harcourt was razed on Sunday.
Earlier, fire had also razed parts of the National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT) in Isiokpo Street, D-Line, on Saturday and a building along the Rumuagholu/Rumuokoro axis, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
He warned that properties and land used by illegal bunkerers to store inflammable materials responsible for fire at D-Line and Rumuokoro may be confiscated if owners fail to appear.
Onowu blamed residents who conceal activities of bunkerers in their neighbourhood as accomplices, wondering why they should not report people who store petroleum products in their compounds.
He said investigations have commenced on the fire incidents, and warned residents to desist from storing petroleum and inflammable materials in their place of abode, as he reminded them that the dry season was near and can worsen the situation.
Speaking, the state Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Dr. Peter Meede, disclosed that investigations into the incidents would unravel the actual causes.
According to him, a full-scale investigation would not only reveal the causes of the fire, but would also provide a remedy to it.
He said, “There is the likelihood that it is petroleum products that are causing the fire. We cannot come to that conclusion now until there is a full-scale investigation. The report of the investigation will reveal the cause of fire as well as the remedy to it.
“If you watch, where the dealers of these products (black market fuel peddlers) keep them are places that are hidden. Like the fire incident that occurred in D-Line on Saturday night, that was a company premises; although the company is not in operation.
“Because the company is not in operation, it is absolutely difficult for somebody to know the kind of activity that is going on there. That is why we are calling on law-abiding citizens to be very vigilant in their neighbourhoods. See what they can do, watch what is happening in their neighbourhood and report to the government.
“The Rivers State Government has been able to set up two dedicated telephone lines for people to report unwholesome practices in the state. We have warned severally that when you see and you don’t report, when it happens, it is your own property that would be destroyed; it is your own life that will be lost.
“So, it is important for people to understand that it is patriotic for people to report these unwholesome activities. That is exactly the remedy to this situation”, he added.
Also speaking on the Bonny-Bille-Nembe Jetty fire, the Commander of the Federal Fire Service in Rivers State, DCF Abdullahi Audu Alfa said hoodlums had accused them of not responding in time to the fire incident, and added that for the safety of their lives and equipment, the fire-fighters had to turn back.
Alfa condemned the action of the members of the public, saying that efforts must be made to sensitise residents on how to respond to emergencies.
He also said that most times, they get the information about fire outbreaks late after individual efforts had failed.
Alfa said the problem of poor network of roads leading to the scenes of fire outbreaks and poor attitude of motorists who do not give the fire-fighters easy right of way at the time of emergency were also part of the causes of the delays in their arrival at the scene of incidents.
He added that the Federal Fire Service has fought 26 fire incidents (excluding today’s fire) in Port Harcourt and its environs from September to date with the loss of properties worth billions of naira.
Alfa added that his findings and experience show that most fire outbreaks in the state were caused by activities of illegal artisanal refiners and improper storage of petroleum products.
Reacting, the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Barrister George Ariolu said that the Rumuokoro fire incident was caused by illegal trading and improper storage of petroleum products.
Ariolu, who said this during his visit to the scene of the fire disaster, lamented that members of the Community Development Committee (CDC), chairman of youth group and other stakeholders may be aware of the illegal dangerous business without reporting to either the local government or the state government.
“Fire incident don’t just happen, they’re caused by human activities, whether legal or illegal.
“If you go back to the point it started, you will see that this is a clear incident of illegal oil bunkering, that is what is there and that is the cause of the fire, which is condemnable.
“These are unpatriotic citizens of this nation; that is what we have discovered here”.
Community Development Chairman of Belema Community at Nembe-Bille Waterfront where another fire incident was recorded on Monday in Old Port Harcourt Township, Gospel Nengiye urged for the building of a fire station at Nembe-Bille Waterfront.
He spoke to newsmen following the fire that gutted about seven boats as a result of a faulty outboard motor engine that went into flames at the jetty.
Nengiye said the fire sparked by the faulty outboard motor engine entered spread to other boats as it was difficult to contain the conflagration.
There are claims that a woman and her baby lost their lives, but many properties and market wares consisting of fish, and consumables were gutted by the fire on Monday.
Earlier, fire-fighters had escaped mob action as a huge explosion at the newly commissioned Bonny-Bille-Nembe Jetty built by Rivers State Government in the outskirts of Port Harcourt metropolis resulted into a heavy fire outbreak early Monday.
An eyewitness said that, at least, two persons with serious cases of burn injuries were rushed to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), for treatment as a result of the incident.
According to him, the environs of the Bonny-Bille-Nembe Jetty has been turned into a hotbed of illegal refining of petroleum products, popularly known as “Kponfire”, fuel causing massive pollution across Port Harcourt and its environs.
Another eyewitness claimed that the explosion occurred when a boat driver tried to kick-start his engine.
He said this resulted in a huge fire that quickly spread to other boats aided by petroleum products in the environment, alleging that four persons died as a result.
“However, fire-fighters from the Federal Fire Service narrowly escaped mob action after they arrived at the scene of the fire outbreak,” he added.
Meanwhile, hoodlums quickly took advantage of the fire incident to loot fish, crayfish and other food items from the jetty.
But it took the arrival of Naval personnel to restore normalcy to the tensed area.
All the fire outbreaks have been attributed to illegal refining or distribution of petroleum products, popularly called “Kponfire”.

By: Kevin Nengia &
Excellent Omehoma