– Gov Fubara assures victims of support
– Maritime workers demand fire station
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The death toll from the petrol fire explosion which rocked Bonny/Nembe/Bille Jetty, off Creek Road in the Old Port Harcourt Township, has risen to seven.
SweetCrude Reports had reported of a fire explosion which hit a section of the jetty yesterday, trapping boat passengers including children and destroyed properties worth hundreds of millions.
Speaking the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, blamed the incessant cases of fire outbreaks in the Bonny/Nembe/Bille Jetty on the absence of firefighting equipment and fire station at the jetty.
Chairman of MWUN in Rivers State, Mr. Israel Waribo Pepple, also called on the Rivers State Government to subsidize boat operations, including the cost of boat parts and services, to ease the sufferings of water travelers.
Pepple explained the boats that were affected by the fire had been fully loaded with passengers and goods about to sail before the incident.
According to him, the driver of the affected boat has not been found and they were still watching the tide to see if more drowned person(s) will float up from the depths of the river to the surface to ascertain the number of deaths.
“The Bonny/Nembe/Bille Jetty needs a fire station to curb future occurrence. There is no fire fighting equipment anywhere from the beginning till the end of the terminal, not even a single fire hydrant.
“Also, we are calling on the Rivers State Government to subsidize boat operations to ease the sufferings of water travelers in the state, boat parts are very expensive nowadays. The government should take this up under the Ministry of Transport,” People said.
Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has described as unfortunate the fire outbreak at the Bonny/Nembe/Bille Jetty and assured of his determination to work with operators of the jetty to streamline measures that will end the occurrence of infernos in the area.
Governor Fubara speaking through the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo at the scene of the incident, pledged to support victims of the fire outbreak after a proper assessment.
He said, “We have seen the situation on the ground. We have heard from the maritime workers’ chairman; the complaints and of course the recommendations he has made concerning a quick reaction time in terms of fire service response.
“We will assess the situation in terms of what has been damaged; the building that has been completely burnt down, the damaged jetty and other items that were damaged. Be assured he will take every possible step to assuage your feelings and loss.”
