A civil society organisation, Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) and the Nigerian Police seem to be in disagreement over the planned planned destruction of explosive materials in Rivers State.
The Police had on Monday given an approval to an oil servicing firm, Halliburton Energy Services Nigeria, to carry out the destruction of the explosive materials at Kporghor Community in Tai local government area of the state.
The exercise, according to a statement issued in Port Harcourt by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Blessing Agabe, will be carried out from Wednesday, July 8 to Friday, July 10, 2026, by a team of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD-CBRN) operatives.
But, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, YEAC-Nigeria called on Halliburton to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report in the community exercise before carrying out the destruction of the explosives.
The statement, which was signed the the organisation’s executive director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, called for public safety assurances, and the participation and involvement of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
It reads in part, “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.
“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.
“We therefore call for the suspension of this exercise pending the conduct and approval of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report. We further call for public safety assurances, and the participation and involvement of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
“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.
“Furthermore, it is important for officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Health to be present at the exercise to monitor the impact and implications on the immediate environment and the health of the people, if these measures are not already in place before the planned exercise.”
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