Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has ordered council chairmen to destroy every identified illegal crude oil bunkering and artisanal refinery site.
The governor had, on Friday, January 14, 2022, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the 23 local government area chairmen to provide a comprehensive list of all illegal refinery sites and their operators within their respective jurisdictions.
Wike, speaking during a meeting with the 23 local government area chairmen, the commissioner of police and the commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday instructed that adequate security be provided for the council chairmen as they discharge the order.
He said with the receipt of the list of identified illegal refinery sites, the state government would provide financial support to council chairmen to hire bulldozers and swamp buggies to destroy all the sites.
“All of you should hire bulldozers, clear all those creeks; The government will give you some money so that they will know that we are serious.
“Those of you who are from the riverine areas, I don’t want to hear it is the creek. Go and clear those areas, apply to the state government, each of you, at least N20 million for a start to hire the equipment.
“That does not mean you will wait before you start. You must start today, tomorrow. CP, please give them the security to do this work. Don’t give them two policemen,” Wike ordered.
He maintained that the government would not allow those engaged in illegitimate businesses to operate in Rivers State.
However, Wike warned that he would personally visit the inspector general of police, the NSCDC commandant general, and the chief of army staff in Abuja to report any of their personnel implicated in illegal crude oil bunkering and artisanal refinery activities in Rivers State.
While regretting the Federal Government’s failure to take any action to end the soot crisis in the oil-producing states, the governor noted that his administration could not fold its arms and watch some persons destroy the environment and health of citizens.
