State of Emergency: Too early to comment – Rivers govt

State of Emergency: Too early to comment – Rivers govt

The Rivers State Government has stated that it is too early to make comments on the presidential declaration of a state of emergency in the state.

President Bola Tinubu in a nationwide broadcast, Tuesday, had suspended the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, as well as the members of the State House of Assembly.

When contacted immediately after the declaration by the president, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, said it was too hasty for the government to take any position.

Johnson said: “The president has made a declaration and what do you think we can say. I think it is too hasty to make any comment about it.”

Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state for the period of six months.

Concerns heightened in the oil-producing state today as another explosion rocked a major oil facility making it the second major incident in less than 12 hours.

The blast occurred at a manifold connecting federal line in Okwawriwa area, Onelga, on Tuesday morning, sending massive flames into the air.

The explosion, according to eyewitnesses, happened at a facility that conveys petroleum products from Seplat, Agip, and Shell, serving Onelga and parts of Imo State, to Brass in Bayelsa State.

It was gathered that the facility is located at a distance from residential homes, minimizing the risk of casualties.

This latest explosion comes on the heels of a similar incident at the Trans-Niger Pipeline, operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), which transports oil to Bonny Terminal.

The pipeline explosion, which occurred in Bodo, Gokana LGA, has already sparked an investigation by the police.

Confirming the incident, the Rivers State Police Command stated that two individuals have been arrested in connection with the Trans-Niger Pipeline explosion.

While the cause of the blasts is yet to be determined, the police are working to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incidents.

• Vanguard newspaper