Victor EzejaAs fears of environmental damage caused by soot pollution heighten in Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike has ordered the shutdown of illegal crude oil refining sites in the state.
Wike gave the order through his new year message released on Saturday by his spokesman, Kelvin Ebiri.
According to Ebiri, the governor who said the order is with immediate effect has directed local council chairmen and community leaders to report those found to be involved in oil theft and illegal bunkering in their localities to his office for prosecution.
Wike who said the move has become necessary to contain the menace of soot pollution which has continued to endanger public health in the state lamented that despite bringing the issue to the attention of the Federal Government on several occasions, nothing has been done to address the situation.
He said, “Since the federal security agencies have largely refused to stop the illegal crude oil refining activities in the state, we have no option than to take necessary measures to tackle this particular and direct challenge to our collective health and survival by ourselves.
“Consequently, I have directed the chairman of Port Harcourt city local government council to go after all the illegal crude oil refining sites along Creek road and adjourning areas of the city and shut them down with immediate effect.
“Furthermore, all local government chairmen are directed to work with community leaders to locate and identify those behind all illegal bunkering and crude oil refining sites in their localities and report to my office for further action.”
There has been an increase in illegal oil refining activities in recent times in the state, a situation that has triggered fear of a likely surge of black soot (a dangerous black substance formed during the combustion of fuel) in the atmosphere.
The governor also reiterated his administration’s commitment to ridding the state of all forms of criminality in the year 2022, noting that crime has been at very low rates in Rivers State which made the citizens feel safer and more secure in the last year than in the previous years.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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