Rivers Govt. loses N10bn marine equipment to fire.

Fire incident from illegal refinery at Woji jetty, Obior Akpor in Rivers state has led to the loss of N10 billion Marine equipment belonging to the State government.

The state has however vowed to investigate the circumstances leading to the cause of the inferno.

The Commissioner for Environment, Prof Roseline Koyan, told newsmen that the state government wanted to know the cause of the fire and punish the perpetrators.

The fire incident had destroyed some vessels at the jetty with one of the owners of the vessels, Swtlents Limited saying it lost N3bn to the fire incident.

Koyan said “government does not pollute the air or environment. It is activities of men that pollute the environment. I cannot say what caused the fire because it is very difficult to get close to the source and dangerous to inhale the smoke.”

A lawyer to Swatlents , Ignatus Onyekachi, who threatened court action said the company had lodged complaints on the activities of the illegal refineries before the fire incident.

He blamed the Joint Task Force, JTF, for failing to respond to the complaints and address the problem before now.
He said “these hoodlums carry out these activities in broad day light. It also shows that the military is aware of the activities of the hoodlums.” .