Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, YEAC-Nigeria, has called for the immediate suspension of Halliburton Energy Services Nigeria Limited‘s planned destruction of expired explosive materials in Rivers State, insisting that an Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA, must first be conducted and approved.
The call followed a notice by the Rivers State Police Command informing residents of Kporghor Community in Tai Local Government Area of a planned three-day disposal exercise scheduled for July 8 to July 10, 2026.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, YEAC-Nigeria said it was worried about the potential environmental and public health consequences of the planned explosions.
“We at the Advocacy Centre are concerned about the impact of the planned destruction of explosive materials on the immediate environment and its contribution to soot pollution that has drastically reduced in Rivers State,” the group said.
“We are also concerned about the implications for the health of the people, as dangerous chemicals will be released into the atmosphere and inhaled, in addition to the deafening effects of the explosions.”
YEAC-Nigeria urged authorities to suspend the exercise until an Environmental Impact Assessment is completed.
“We therefore call for the suspension of this exercise pending the conduct and approval of an Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA, report,” the statement added.
The organisation also called for the involvement of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, to independently monitor the operation and ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
“NESREA’s responsibility includes ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment for Nigerians. The Agency should be present to determine the impact of the exercise on the environment and to ensure that combustion is complete for a cleaner and healthier environment, and that there is compliance with EIA guidelines during the destruction exercise.”
YEAC further requested the presence of officials from the Rivers State Ministries of Environment and Health to monitor the environmental and health implications of the disposal exercise.
Earlier, the Rivers State Police Command announced that approval had been granted to Halliburton Energy Services Nigeria Limited to destroy expired explosive materials in its custody after they were examined by relevant experts and certified unfit for continued storage.
Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, said the operation would be conducted by personnel of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear, EOD-CBRN, Unit in Port Harcourt.
According to the police, the disposal exercise is intended to safely render the expired explosives harmless, with all necessary safety precautions already put in place.
The command advised residents of Kporghor Community and adjoining areas not to panic over the loud explosions expected during the operation, assuring them that the exercise is a controlled safety procedure designed to eliminate potential risks associated with storing expired explosive materials.
