Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, stated that his government will not tolerate the shutting down of oil production facilities of operating companies in the state by aggrieved communities.
Wike also warned communities not to take laws into their hands by preventing oil production companies from working.
While meeting with Chairmen of Cluster Development Boards in Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru and Degema Local Government Areas with Oil Companies and Security Agencies at the Government House Port Harcourt, he ordered the immediate revival of the State Steering Committee on Cluster Development Boards.
According to him: “I will not support any company not to carry out their corporate social responsibilities to their host communities.
“However, communities must not take laws into their hands. They must not stop production by the operating companies. Such actions will negatively affect the finances of the Federal Government, the state and the local government areas”.
He said that situation where communities seize facilities of oil companies should end stressing that: “It is important that we do not allow a crisis to occur in the communities. The Aeroton rig in one community was seized. That rig should be allowed to work. I called this meeting because of the concerns raised by the operating companies in the area”, he said.
He accused oil companies of causing problems in Niger Delta by patronising and engaging with criminal elements to the disadvantage of the host communities.
