Rivers State Government has opened investigations into causes of serial fire outbreaks in the state after two incidents destroyed properties worth millions of naira in Port Harcourt metropolis over the weekend.
Fire had razed down properties, including parts of the centre 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.
Speaking on the incident, the state Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Peter Meede disclosed that investigations into both 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.
“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 that 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.”
