Dum Dekor
Stakeholders comprising of academics, environmentalists, traditional rulers, civil society organisations (CSOs), oil and gas regulatory agencies and security personnel, among others, have blamed the black soot occurrence and air pollution in Rivers State on the Federal Government.
They said that the failure of the federal government to provide petroleum adequate petroleum products in the country led to illegal refining activities, adding that the gap created room for patronage of illegal petroleum products, which is the major cause of the soot menace in the state.
They noted that while people in the rural areas demand for bulk kerosene, urban dwellers demand diesel, lamenting that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was not providing sufficient products for consumers, thereby creating a thriving market for artisanal refiners.
The Convener of Stop The Soot Campaign, Eugene Abels, said it was disheartening that for over three years, the state government had raised issue of soot at all levels, but the challenge still remained unresolved.
“There are several artisanal refineries in the state because the demand for petroleum products like kerosene and diesel are high. If there is no demand, supply will be useless,” he stated.
Abels further blamed government for failure to fund the regulators and agencies that should have regulated activities of illegal refiners, adding: “There is no clear enforcement on the distribution of illegal products due to lack of funds.
He pointed out that people are dying of cancerous diseases daily in the city, adding that most very sick persons now occupy hospital beds in Port Harcourt and other places in the state.
Speaking, Director General of NOSDRA, Peter Idabor, said since it has been established that soot is hydrocarbon-based, illegal activities in the oil and gas sector and the burning of stolen crude by security agencies could be responsible for the soot.
