Consider Residents in Planned Destruction of Explosives; YEAC-Nigeria Tells Police
A disagreement seems to has emerged between the Nigerian Police Force and the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) over the planned destruction of expired explosive materials in Rivers State.
The Rivers State Police Command had on Monday July 6, 2026, announced that Halliburton Energy Services Nigeria Limited had been authorised to dispose of the expired explosives at Kporghor Community in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Agabe Blessing, the exercise is scheduled to take place from Wednesday, July 8, to Friday, July 10, 2026, under the supervision of operatives from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD-CBRN) Unit.
However, YEAC-Nigeria has raised concerns over the planned exercise. In a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday July 6, 2026, the organisation urged the Police and Halliburton to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before proceeding with the destruction of the explosives.
The statement, signed by the Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, Fyneface Dumnamene, also called for adequate public safety assurances and the active involvement of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in the exercise.
Fyneface Dumnamene expressed concern about the impact of the planned exercise on the immediate environment vis-à-vis its contribution to soot pollution that according to him, has drastically reduced in Rivers State. He further expressed concern about the implications of the exercise on the health of the people, pointing out that harmful chemicals will be released into the atmosphere and be inhaled by residents in addition to the deafening sounds from 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” he stated.
Fyneface Dumnamene also called on the relevant government agencies to witness the exercise so as to monitor the impact and implications of the explosions on the health of residents in the surrounding environments.
” 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”.
