An explosion near a tank farm on the Abonema Wharf axis of Port Harcourt, River State’s capital, destroyed properties and items worth millions of naira.
In response, the state authorities stated that the fire was started by people who utilized the temporary structures to store petroleum products and other flammable items, which ignited fire at the slightest mistake.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Energy, Dr. Peter Medee told Channels Television that the government is considering the demolition of the makeshift buildings in premises where petroleum tank farms are located.
He added that other unapproved places will be demolished to forestall the reoccurrence of the outbreak.
The fire outbreak at the Abonnema Warf in Port Harcourt comes less than a week after an inferno razed several trucks at an exhibit dump jointly owned by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Iriebe community, along the Port Harcourt-Aba Express Way in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.