Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, last Wednesday said the government would set up a task force to check the activities of illegal crude oil refineries to protect the environment in Bayelsa state.
Mr Dickson, who stated this in Yenagoa, while speaking at this year’s World Environment Day, noted that his administration had engaged the services of internationally acclaimed forensic experts to compile the effects of prolonged oil pollution on the environment and health of the people in the state.
The governor, in a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Francis Agbo described as saddening and frightening reports he has received from the experts, stating that, in due course, the report would be made public.
Mr Dickson, who called for collective efforts to reclaim the environment, observed that decades of oil pollution and gas flaring in the state and the Niger Delta have resulted in rising cases of health hazards, thereby shortening the life span of the people.
The governor, therefore, called on all people of goodwill to listen to the call on the protection of the environment especially in the Niger Delta, which he noted, “had been under severe, sustained and brutal attack by forces that they do not control.”
According to him, “they have not only invaded the land and expropriated their property but are now threatening to exterminate the people.
“A lot of actions would be taken and we will mobilise local and international opinions on this. There are legislative measures that I will also call on the State Assembly to undertake,” he said.
Mr Dickson, who lamented the exclusion of the people in the oil and gas industry, however, decried the establishment of illegal refineries in the state which he noted degrade the environment and destroy lives. He said there was no justification for illegal refinery stressing that doing so would amount to further degrading and polluting the already compromised environment.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Environment, Ebipatei Apaingolo, said Bayelsa is the most impacted state in oil pollution from the activities of various oil companies operating in the Niger Delta.
Hon. Apaingolo said, his Ministry participated in 274 oil spill joint investigation visits on Agip facilities and recorded 580 cases of oil spill.
According to him, other oil companies are not free from such incessant incidents of oil spillage and no adequate compensation or significant environment clean-up has been made so far.
Commissioner for Health, Ebitimitula Etebu, said emission of hydro carbons arising from oil pollution and other activities cause respiratory diseases, which eventually shortens the life span of the people.
In their separate goodwill messages, the House Committee Chairman on Environment, Ebi Ben Ololo, the Ibedaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, King Bubaraye Dakolo and representative of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, Cyrus Nkangwunga, former President of Ijaw Youth Council, Comrade Udengs Eradiri and Chairman of the State Environmental Sanitation Authority, Chief Robert Enogha, called for collective efforts in recycling wastes for wealth and job creation.