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Banigo Seeks Support To End Oil Theft, Illegal Refining
The Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, has solicited the support of the Community Development Committees (CDC) in the 23 local government areas of the state to enlighten and sensitize their people about the dangers inherent in artisanal refining of crude oil.
Banigo expressed this during a consultative meeting on modular refineries with the CDC chairmen and secretaries from the 23 local government areas at the Delta Hotels, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
She said the appeal became necessary in view of the fact that the issue of black soot concerns everybody because of the negative effect it has on our environment, noting that it is a matter that could kill all of us if we do not take necessary actions to stop it.
According to the deputy governor, when scientists examined the particles of the soot in Port Harcourt and its environs, they discovered that those particles were very dangerous to human health, plants and animals.
Banigo further disclosed that it can cause cancer and damage virtually all the organs of the body like the lungs, heart, the kidneys and the skin, stressing that one of the major causes of soot was artisanal refining of crude oil which is popularly known as “Kpo Fire”.
The deputy governor informed the CDC members that the state government under the leadership of Governor Nyesom Wike was committed to put an end to the problem by providing better alternative to the people in the form of modular refineries.
She assured them that government would not victimize anyone who abandons his or her artisanal refining business to embrace the modular refinery programme.
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Igbiks Tamuno, revealed that in Rivers State, with a population of over seven million people, the “Kpo fire” activities were spread across 14 local government areas with some LGAs having as much as 10 locations.
Igbiks, who said the effects of the soot were seen everywhere, expressed worry that while some artisanal refinery operators smile to the banks, majority of the innocent people were suffering from the illegal activities of a few, stressing that the state government was determined to put an end to the menace.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Dr. Peter Medee, informed the CDC members that they were not invited to be accused but to partner with the state government to proffer lasting solution to the soot problem plaguing the state.
While sensitizing the people on the global Coronavirus pandemic, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, who is also the chairman of the Awareness Committee on the Prevention of Coronavirus in the state, said the government decided to set up the committee on Coronavirus prevention because the state Chief Executive, Chief Nyesom Wike, places high premium on the wellbeing of all residents in the state.
He noted that this was not the time to spiritualize but to take proactive steps, improve on personal hygiene level and protect ourselves and our loved ones.
While contributing to the discussion, the Forum of Community Development Committees in Rivers State, endorsed the concept of modular refineries, and pledged readiness to support government efforts to float modular refineries in parts of the state as a mechanism for checking unemployment and rising criminality, while stopping the scourge of oil theft and illegal refining activities in the state.
The Coordinator-General of the forum in Rivers State, Mr John Onwubualili, who spoke on behalf of members of the forum, said that the initiative, if implemented, was capable of addressing the myriad of environmental challenges facing the region, while building the economic capacity of the people to respond to the needs of the present day realities.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.