The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, visited the fire outbreak scene at the Bonny/Nembe/Bille Jetty off Creek Road located in the Old Port Harcourt area of Rivers State on Tuesday.
According to the report from the Rivers State Television (RSTV) Facebook page, fire engulfed two boats that were fully loaded with passengers and goods on Monday. Despite readiness to sail the sea, the two boats ended up trapping a number of passengers who are yet to be found.
During the visitation, the governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Tammy Danagogo, expressed his sympathy for the victims’ ordeals. He pitied them for the goods worth millions of naira, but were engulfed in the fire outbreak.
The governor assured the people that necessary measures would be taken to avoid future occurrences, “He (Fubara) would have been here himself except that he is not here now. But he has directed us to be here immediately as the incident happened, so that he will get a first-hand report from us before he returns from his journey.
“We have seen the situation on the ground. We have heard from the maritime workers chairman about the complaints and, of course, the recommendations he has made concerning quick reaction time in terms of fire service response.
“Be assured that his Excellency the governor is with you, and he will make sure that this kind of thing, working together with you, we will make sure that we avoid it.
“We will assess the situation in terms of what has been damaged—this building here that is completely burned down; we can see the jetty that is damaged there.
“We have seen most of what has been damaged here. Be assured, he will take every possible step to assuage your feelings and loss.”
According to the report made by RSTV, the Chairman of the Maritime Workers, Comrade Israel Waribo Pepple, who showed the governor’s representative the extent of the fire, said that the boats that were affected by the fire were fully loaded with passengers and goods, ready to sail.
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However, Pepple reiterated that one of the drivers, one of the affected boats, and some passengers are yet to be seen.
The chairman said that the search is ongoing, and they are watching the tide to allow those who have allegedly drowned in the incident to float out to the surface of the river in a bid to account for the number of scores feared dead.
