Rivers Police urges residents to maintain calmness Before Planned Explosive Exercise.
The Rivers State Police Command had alerted residents of Kporghor Community in Tai Local Government to a planned destruction of expired explosive materials by Halliburton Energy Services Nigeria Limited, urging them not to panic over loud explosions that will accompany the exercise.
The exercise will take place from Wednesday, July 8, to Friday, July 10, 2026, at Kporghor Community in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The police said the operation would be carried out by a team of operatives from the Explosive Ordinance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Unit, Port Harcourt.
The command also explained that the exercise involves the rendering safe and destruction of expired explosive materials in Halliburton’s custody and is being undertaken following expert examination of the explosives.
They also assured residents that every precautionary measure had been put in place to avert any danger during the operation.
However the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) has expressed concerns about the said exercise to the planned destruction of expired explosive in Kporghor Community in Tai LGA materials by Halliburton Energy Services Nigeria Limited scheduled to take place from Wednesday, July 8, to Friday, July 10, 2026.
The Advocacy Centre expressed concerns 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 the 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”.
Exective Director YEAC Nigeria, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene calls for the suspension of the exercise pending the conduct and approval of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report.
He stated that public safety assurances, and the participation and involvement of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) should be factored into the exercise.
“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 retorted.
Fyneface also called on the 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, mentioning that their presence cannot be overemphasized.
