News

Lloyd Accuses IOCs, Marketers, Tanker Drivers Of Aiding Illegal Oil Bunkering …Uncovers Illegal Sites In Egbeda, Ibaa

Published

4 years ago

February 18, 2022

The Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Dr Chidi Lloyd has accused officials of multinational companies of aiding illegal oil bunkering activities in the area.
He said operators of artisanal refineries cannot have access to unrefined products without the collaboration of key officials of the pipeline operating and servicing companies.
The council chairman stated this when he led a combined team of security personnel to discover new illegal petroleum refining sites in Egbeda community in Emohua LGA, last Wednesday.
According to Lloyd; “operators of illegal artisanal petroleum refineries can only know when there is pressure in a pipeline with the assistance of key officials of the operating company or the pipeline serving company”.
Lloyd also accused petroleum marketers and tanker drivers of promoting illegal oil bunkering activities by engaging in the transportation and distribution of illegally refined petroleum products from the oil thieves.
He wondered why petroleum marketers association and tanker drivers’ union have not been able to caution their members against lifting criminally refined petroleum products from the illegal artisanal refineries across Rivers State.
Speaking further, Lloyd described the silence of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and other multinationals over the ongoing war against illegal oil bunkering activities in Rivers State as a direct indictment on the companies.
He said; “Up till now, nothing has been heard from Shell and other multinationals regarding the illegal oil bunkering activities. Does it mean that they are not aware of what’s been happening in the state?
“Since the marching order from the governor to the council chairmen, we have not heard anything from the operators of the pipelines that were vandalised by these illegal petroleum refiners, not even a word of commendation to the governor and the council chairmen”.
He added that the war against illegal oil bunkering activities, which has been identified as the main cause of soot pandemic in Rivers State, requires the total support of the first tier of government which has the exclusive powers over oil exploration in the country.
Lloyd stressed that the war against illegal oil bunkering and artisanal petroleum refining cannot be won with the present disposition of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
He, however, commended the Rivers StateGovernor, Chief Nyesom Wike for championing the fight against soot pandemic in the state through the marching order given to local government council chairmen to dislodge operators of illegal refineries across the state, which was already yielding positive results across the state.
The council chairman and his team also stormed Ibaa community, where several trucking lines and residential houses used to store illegally refined petroleum products in commercial quantities were uncovered.
Lloyd frowned at the massive storage of illegally refined petroleum products in residential environment across Ibaa community, and warned against its consequences on residents of the community.
He expressed fear of imminent fire outbreak that may consume lives and properties in the area, as a result of the use of residential buildings as trucking lines and storage facility by oil thieves in the community.
He directed the local government taskforce on illegal oil bunkering to effect the immediate evacuation of the illegally refined petroleum products intercepted in course of the raid, as well as the impoundment of the vehicles used to transport the products.
Lloyd also said that the suspected perpetuators apprehended in the course of the raid were expected to be arraigned in court.

By: Nelson Chukwudi

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.