RSG Kicks Against Artisenal Refining, Crude Oil Theft

Rivers State Government has frowned at the high rate of artisanal refining and crude oil theft which pose serious menace with glaring negative impact on the environment and inhabitants of the State.
The State Deputy Governor, Dr. Mrs. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo disclosed this, recently, during a stakeholders’ consultative engagement on Modular Refineries at the Government House, in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Banigo considered the situation as multifaceted that required a multidimensional approach, noting that the State Government under the watch of Governor Nyesom Wike initiated various measures to curtail the menace.
She said Government had inaugurated a high powered technical Committee of Technocrats saddled with the responsibility of carrying out scientific investigation and proffering necessary abatement measures.
Banigo added that Government, in alliance with security agencies, also deployed necessary actions against the operators with laudable campaign programmes put in place.
The Deputy Governor, however, regretted that the effect of these approaches was relatively slow due to the huge scale of diverse interest.
She stressed that the State Government refused to relent but resolved to explore more avenues to end the crisis and save the environment because of the concern and well being of Rivers people.
According to Banigo, ‘‘Based on the Federal Government’s pronouncement in 2016 on the establishment of the modular refining process and its readiness to encourage and support equity participation of the State, Government registered local cooperatives.
‘‘His Excellency, Chief Nyesom Wike considered the vast benefit of this scheme and has approved its implementation in the State. He also directed the commencement of necessary actions for the realization of this scheme in the State’’.
The Deputy Governor, who expressed the hope that the meeting would robustly explore possible areas of strategies on how to put in place a well-coordinated and feasible process on the implementation of the scheme, disclosed that the scheme was designed to be entrepreneurial driven.