The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has ordered an immediate shutdown of all illegal crude oil refining sites in the State as a means to ending the soot issue that is beginning to spell doom to the health of the people of the State.
Africa Today News, New York gathered that the Governor gave this order in his new year message which was made public by his spokesman, Kelvin Ebiri yesterday.
The governor directed council chairmen and community leaders to report those behind illegal bunkering and crude oil refining sites in their localities to his office for prosecution.
The move, Wike stated, has become necessary to contain the menace of soot pollution which has continued to endanger public health in the state.
This is even as he lamented that despite bringing the issue to the attention of the Federal Government on numerous occasions, nothing has been done to address the situation.
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‘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,” Wike said.
‘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.’
Africa Today News, New York reports that there has been a recent increase in activities of illegal refiners and bunkerers in the oil-rich state, a situation that has triggered fear of a likely surge of deadly black soot in the atmosphere.
Away from the soot pollution, Wike reiterated his administration’s commitment in ridding the state of all forms of criminality in 2022.
He noted that crime has been at very low rates in Rivers State and the citizens felt safer and more secure last year than in the previous years.
According to him, the state government identified and destroyed most of the shanties that served as safe havens and hideouts for criminals.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK