The Rivers State Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, has said that the federal government has failed to intervene towards the hydrocarbon soot menace in the state caused by the illegal activities of artisanal crude oil refiners.
Wike, in a state-wide broadcast to mark the new year claimed that his administration has been overly concerned over the soot that has continued to affect Port Harcourt residents.
He said that although efforts to plead with residents engaged in the illegal activities have not been successful, his government would continue to engage and plead with the Federal Government to save the state.
According to him, “As a state government, we have drawn the attention of the federal government to this problem and requested for its intervention to stop the activities of illegal bunkering and artisanal crude oil refiners, which have been identified as the main sources of the soot pandemic.
“Unfortunately, the federal government has remained inexplicably silent over our request and even complicit to a large extent with the security agencies actively aiding, encouraging and protecting the artisanal refiners to continue with their harmful activities unabated.
“We have equally appealed without success to our people engaging in this illegal business to consider its negative effects on our economy, environment, public safety and public health and disengage from it.
“We will continue to engage and plead with the Federal Government to intervene and save our people from this serious environmental and health emergency,” the Governor said.
Continuing, he explained: “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.”
