Opinion
Menace Of Kerosene Adulteration
Adulterated kerosene fire incidents is another angle of disaster that brings about major concern and worries to members of the society. The incident, of a truth, has wasted several lives and properties worth millions of naira in Port Harcourt and its environs. The incident sometimes are caused by the carelessness or recklessness of human beings which also leave in their trail unpleasant consequences to its victims, relations and the society at large.
It is a true aphorism that fire is a very bad master which left no warning that tragedy lurked at the corners, waiting for the victims of fire incident before suddenly striking on them.
It could be recalled that in the month of February to June, 2011, 14 citizens of Rivers State were lost to fire incidents arising from explosion of adulterated kerosene which had infiltrated some retail outlets in the state.
Still in the month of February, 2011, over 5,000 residents of Elechi Beach water front in Port Harcourt were rendered homeless when fire gutted their residents as a result of explosion of adulterated products is as a result of lack of adequate supply of kerosene.
The source of the kerosene were traced to local retailers who use surface tanks to store and sell the products. There was also an unconfirmed link between the local and retailer and a fuel filing station that was alleged to be the major source of adulterated kerosene in the area. Globally, three quarters of all burn-related death are as a result of kerosene accident and house fire.
Burn injuries resulting from kerosene accidents are the predominant type of turn injury in-patients presenting at burn centres in developing countries. Investigation reveals that the death rates are highest among young children and the elderly, who have difficulty in escaping from these type of fire incident. Most of the victims of kerosene explosion are women from the age range of 18-45 years. This is not surprising because the circumstances surrounding such incidents have to do with domestic activities like fueling of kerosene stove and lanterns.
For most resident in Rivers State, especially those within Port Harcourt metropolis, it is certainly a time of sorrow and disaster, as contaminated kerosene which point of origination is yet to b e known continued to wreck havoc on them. Most of the victims alive explained that he explosion normally occurred when they are trying to refill their lantern or cooking stove with the kerosene mostly purchase from hawkers around their neighbourhoods.
As for Miss Mercy Tornweni, it is a period of sadness that she will never forget in her life time. According to her kerosene was bought from hawkers around her vicinity in Bundu area of Port Harcourt. ‘As I was about refilling the lantern in my room, it exploded and burnt my fingers and some parts of my hands,” she said. It is a fact that most of the hawkers are doing the sales just for survival. They claim they normally purchase from petrol station at the cost of N19,000 per drum and retail at the rate of N400 per gallon.
It would also be recalled that a serving policeman in Warri, Delta State not too long ago, lost his wife and six children to kerosene explosion which occurred at their Oghara home, also in Delta State. Let us all be aware of this lurking national danger all around us, and profiteers also should re-examine their conscience, as no amount of profiteering can replace good health or indeed life restoration.
A simple sample test shows that if the colour of the kerosene is golden or light yellow it is likely to be adulterated kerosene. Furthermore if the smell is irritating, pungent or choking it is likely to be adulterated with gasoline. Also, if the product evaporates fast, it is an indication that it is adulterated and very volatile and hence potentially explosive.
Kerosene when unsafely handled creates a fire risk. Looking back in recorded history, in 1880, nearly two out of every 5 New York City fire were caused by defective kerosene lanterns.
Kerosene vapour mixed with air is as explosive as gunpowder, hence the practice of adulterating kerosene with other more volatile hydrocarbon creates a potential explosion hazard.
It was also reported in the month of January 2011 that adulterated kerosene explosion kills four in Ogbara in Delta State. The victim died of an explosion triggered from a strike of a match to light kerosene lantern by their mother. Their residents was then engulf in a fire due to the explosion, adding that ingestion of kerosene is harmful or fatal.
Also in the month of March, 2011, it was reported that adulterated kerosene killed 34 years old women and injured her daughter in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Kerosene also known as paraffin or paraffin oil is combustible hydrocarbon liquid which is commonly used in Nigeria for lanterns and wick heater also called kerosene stove liquid with low flash point are flammable and combustible. Kerosene is a thin clear liquid formed from hydrocarbons which is obtained form the fractional distillation of petroleum resulting from mixture of carbon chains. On the 10th of February 2011 Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) issued alert of danger of more kerosene explosions following the discovery of widespread distribution of kerosene mixed with gasoline.
NNPC reported that 13 deaths were recorded from kerosene related explosion and the resultant fire between January and February, 2011. The proliferation of adulterated killer kerosene was accessioned by the closure of Nigeria four domestic refineries with adequate import supply between December, 2010 and February,2011.
The Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Suleman Abba had noted that kerosene adulteration and explosion resulting from that and several people becoming victims in recent past is no more news. According to him, the numerous efforts by the police, SSS, JTF and other members of the armed force in the state are making relentless effort to bring to an end, illegal bunkering, refining and adulteration of petroleum products in the state.
Opinion
Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
Opinion
Checking Herdsmen Rampage
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
Opinion
Is Nigeria Democratic Nation?
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.
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