False! Rivers State Governor didn’t shut down oil production

Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers State Governor

By Taiwo Adeyemi

Claim: An X user shared a picture of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara with a  caption that Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara shutdown NNPCL and all oil companies in the state, declares, “no allocation for Rivers State, no oil for Nigeria”.

Verdict: False! A statement issued by the State Commissioner for Information, Joseph Johnson debunked the report and declared it concocted propaganda.

Full Text

An X user, Just King @justkings shared a picture of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara  on 31st October, 2024 with a caption “Breaking News, Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara shuts down NNPC and All oil companies in Rivers State, declares “no allocation for Rivers State, no oil for Nigeria”. 

As at Friday, 1st November, 2024 the post have been viewed by 1 million users, over 26,000 likes, over 4,000 reposts, over 500 quotes and over 600 bookmarks.

The post has generated mixed reactions from users.

Zoe Adeola @oluwatoyinzoe says  “I keep saying the fall of WIKE will be so disgraceful and pitiable”.

Also, Revi @revi_ofthehills “I’m in support. Wike’s tyranny must come to and end”.

However, Surveyor Oladayo @oladayobroy warns that “This is fake news bro”. 

An X user, Ajiji MIT @chief_Ajiji  tweeted a similar post with the same claim which has also gone viral.

“Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara Shuts Down NNPC and All Oil Companies in Rivers State, Declares “No Allocation for Rivers State, No Oil for Nigeria”.

The Nigeria National Petroleum Company is the Nigerian government owned petroleum company. 

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulamalik ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN to stop monthly allocation to Rivers State Government. 

A screenshot of the claim

As a result of the sensitivity of the claim, Diamond FM decided to fact-check the claim. 

Verification 

There is no official statement from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, confirming the claim. 

Also in a statement issued by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Joseph Johnson, said the report is false and concocted propaganda. 

He stated that Fubara is committed to the rule of law and does not rely on unconventional and crude approaches to respond to governance matters.

The statement reads, “The attention of Rivers State Government has been drawn to a spurious news item circulating on social media on “Gov. Siminalayi Fubara shutting down NNPCL and all oil companies in Rivers State.”

“The report was not only false but concocted propaganda from the imagination of the author and enemies of the State. The story was also circulated by an inconsequential and unverified medium.

“Governor Siminalayi Fubara is committed to the rule of law and does not rely on unconventional and crude approaches to respond to matters of governance.

Conclusion:

A claim that Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara shutdowns oil production on the state is False and Misleading.