The Rivers State government has dismissed a social media report claiming that Governor Siminalayi Fubara ordered the shutdown of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other oil companies in the state.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Warisenibo Joe Johnson, the Rivers government described the report as not only false but also a fabricated piece of propaganda.
The statement reads, “The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a spurious news item circulating on social media alleging that ‘Gov. Siminalayi Fubara has shut down NNPCL and all oil companies in Rivers State.’
“The report is entirely false and merely the product of the author’s imagination, spread by adversaries of the State through an inconsequential and unverified source.”
Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the statement continued, is dedicated to upholding the rule of law and does not resort to unconventional or crude methods in addressing governance issues.
“We, therefore, urge the people of Rivers State and well-meaning Nigerians to disregard this spurious and false report, as Governor Fubara has never considered or issued any such directive to shut down the state’s economy for any reason.”