Rivers Govt. to ban refuse burning

The Rivers State Government will soon enact a law prohibiting refuse burning within residential areas. The state Commissioner for Special Duties in Rivers, Mr. Dickson Umunakwe, told newsmen in Port Harcourt on Friday that the state government had lost billions of naira annually to fire incidents.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that property worth N1.26 billion were destroyed by fire in the state in 2012.
Similarly, 230 persons died and 73 others got injured in such incidents.
Umunakwe said that when the law comes into force, residents would have to obtain permission from the ministry before burning refuse.
He said that adhering strictly to the basic fire safety was necessary.
“The major causes of fire in the state are improper refuse burning, bunkering and mishandling of inflammable materials.
“People should imbibe the culture of switching-off their cooking and electrical appliances after use.
“The Fire Service on its part, will continue to work diligently to ensure that the menace is tackled; but residents need to be conscious on issues relating to fire.
“I believe with this little measure, our lives and properties can be safeguarded,” he said.
The commissioner said that the government was willing to partner with multinationals and the private sector in the state to ensure fire safety.
He said that the ministry would embark on aggressive sensitisation of people on the handling of fire in schools, market places and offices in an effort to tackle the danger.