Black Soot in Port Harcourt: Nyesom Wike declare 19 alleged illegal refineries kingpins wanted

Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike don declare 19 pesins wanted for allegedly operating illegal crude oil refining sites, wey dey responsible for di black soot problem wey di state dey experience.

Di Governor for State broadcast on Sunday also direct di Rivers State Head of Service to query one Director for di State Ministry of Energy, for allegedly encouraging and supporting bunkering activities and to hand am over to di police for investigation and possible prosecution.

For about five years now, di capital city of di oi rich Rivers State for south-south Nigeria - Port Harcourt don dey experience serious air pollution problem wey residents for di area now dey call 'black soot'.

Governor Wike say di goment don take practical steps to tackle di soot problem by destroying and closing down all identified illegal crude oil refining sites and activities for Rivers State.

Rivers State list names of wanted pesins

Following im 2022 New Year Message wey list di measures dem wan take tackle di soot palava, di Rivers Governor say di State Taskforce on llegal Street Trading bin go raid some alleged illegal crude oil refining sites for Port Harcourt and arrest some pesins.

"We don declare di following pesins wey we don identify as kingpins of bunkering and illegal crude oil refining activities for dia communities and direct dem to report demsefs to di State Police Command, wey we don already pass dia details to.

Dem be: Mr. Azubike Amadi, OSPAC Commander, Ogbogoro community and Chairman of Akpor Central OSPAC; Mr. India of Rumuolumeni community and Chairman of Oil bunkering Association in Akpor kingdom; Mr. Okey wey dey in charge of oil bunkering for Rumuopareli; Mr. Anderson, wey dey in charge of oil bunkering activities for Ogbogoro community; Amadi Gift of Ogbogoro community; Azeruowa of Ogbogoro community and Kingsley Egbula, also of Ogbogoro community.

Also declared wanted na di following pesins wey dey alleged to dey in charge of oil bunkering activities for Isiokpo community: Mr. Kemkom Azubike, Mr. Mezu Wabali, Mr. Chigozi Amadi, Mr. Opurum Owhondah, Mr. Bakasi Obodo ,Mr. Opus, Mr. Galaxi Mas, Mr. Chioma, Mr. Ogondah, Mr. Soldier, Mr. Chefo and Nkasi.

We don also identify di pipo wey dey behind illegal bunkering activities for Okrika communities, Port Harcourt Township, Rivers outh-East and Rivers South-West Senatorial Districts and we go soon publish dia names and declare dem wanted, if dem fail to voluntarily report to di police." Im tok.

Governor Wike come ask residents of di State to report those wey dey involved in illegal crude oil refineries and oda bad bad activities to di Task Forces wey ready dey di State and Local Goment levels for immediate action.

Ban on motorcycles

Governor Wike also emphasise di total ban on di use of motorcycles for Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt councils as im say dem dey pose security threat to lives and property.

Di Governor say: "Any pesin or corporate entity wey require di use of motorcycle for any lawful purpose must diafor first apply to di office of di Governor for permit and proper documentation of di operational details and particulars of both di motorcycle and designated rider(s).

"We hereby issue final warning to all those wey dey operate motorcycle shuttles and wey dey hawk foreign exchange along Birabi Street, Hotel Presidential, GRA junction by Zenith Bank up to Tombia Street to immediately comot dia or be arrested and prosecuted." Wike tok.

'Stop street trading for your domain or be deposed, arrested and prosecuted'

Di Governor accuse di traditional leadership, including members of Community Development Committees and youth leaders of Rumuola, Rumuogba and Okoro-nu-odo communities say dem dey allegedly collect money from vendors to allow street trading activities around and under di flyovers for these communities.

"I direct di traditional leadership of Rumuola, Rumuogba and Okoro-nu-odo communities to immediately stop all street trading activities around, in or under di flyovers for dia respective domains or dem go be deposed, arrested and prosecuted.

Similarly, di traditional leadership of Rumuwoji Mgbuduku, Obiekwe, Nkpolu-Oroworokwo, Abali, Rebisi, Rumukalagbor-Oroworokwo and Ezimgbu communities dey directed to enforce di ban and ensure say no form of trading take place around and under di flyovers wey dey dia communities."

Ban on street trading under umbrella

Governor Wike also place total ban on di use of umbrella and table trading stands for di entire old and new GRAs of Obio/Akpor Port Harcourt City and Eleme councils.

Im say goment get credible evidence say most of dis traders wey dey in front of houses na informants wey dey monitor and pass vital details and information on di daily movement of very important pesins to dia criminal collaborators.

Governor Wike also observe di failure of Rumuokurushe traditional leadership to honour di terms of dia undertaking not to allow any form of street trading for di (oil mill) Rumuokurushe market, come say Goment no go hesitate to shut down di market again if dem still continue to breach di agreement.