The Rivers State ministry of Environment has said that plans are in progress to curb the hydrocarbon substance commonly referred to as black soot, currently ravaging residents of the state.
Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Environment, Dr Emmanuel Urang stated this in Port Harcourt while representing the Commissioner of Environment at the sideline of a community sensitization program by NOSDRA tagged ‘Community based disaster risk reduction plan, on the dangers of pipeline vandalism’.
Dr Emmanuel Urang said the state government is currently sensitizing relevant stakeholders on the respective roles to help address the Black soot.
“Investigation and studies by the ministry of environment shows that, this soot came as a result of refinery activities. Illegal refinery, legal ones, petrochemical industries, burning of tyres and others.
“And the Rivers State Ministry of Environment has been sensitizing the security agencies.
We’ve gone to the Civil Defense, we’ve gone to the Navy, we’ve gone the Army, and appeal to them not to be burning seized petroleum products, because it’s not good for our health and the environment.
