Worried by the environmental pollution caused by soot in
parts of the Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike has ordered the immediate shut
down of all illegal oil refining sites.
This is as he directed the Chairmen of Councils,
particularly Port Harcourt City Local Government, to identify such sites and
effect his order.
He has also directed all council Chairmen and community
leaders to locate, identify and report to his office all those behind all
illegal bunkering and crude oil refining sites in their localities for
prosecution.
Wike, who gave the order in his 2022 New Year message on Saturday, said the directive stems from the failure of the Federal Government and its security agencies to rein in those behind illegal oil bunkering and artisanal crude oil refiners in the state.
The governor’s directive was contained in a statement issued
by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, and made available to newsmen.
“As a State Government, we have drawn the attention of the
Federal Government to this problem and requested for its intervention to stop
the activities of illegal bunkering and artisanal crude oil refiners, which
have been identified as the main sources of the soot pandemic.
“Unfortunately, the Federal Government has remained
inexplicably silent over our request and even complicit to a large extent with
the security agencies actively aiding, encouraging and protecting the artisanal
refiners to continue with their harmful activities unabated,” Wike stated.
The governor said the state government has equally appealed
without success to persons engaging in this illegal business to consider its
negative effects on the economy, environment, public safety and public health
and disengage from it.
Governor Wike assured that his administration will continue
to do its best to meet the aspirations of citizens for a more peaceful, safe
and secure society throughout the Year 2022.
“We will continue to pursue our objectives for a stronger
and more sustainable economy centred on fiscal discipline, revenue growth, job
creation, and improved standard of living for all residents.
“We will continue to accelerate our development with the
sustainable delivery of quality roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and other
socio-economic infrastructure and complete all ongoing development projects
across the State,” he added.
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