Determined to tackle the incessant activities of illegal crude oil refining in Rivers State and its menace on the natural environment, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the 23 Local Government Chairmen to provide a comprehensive list of illegal refineries and their operators within their jurisdiction.
Governor Wike gave the ultimatum at a meeting with the council chairmen and heads of the Nigerian  Army, Nigerian Air force,  Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Police, the Directorate of State Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps at Government House on Friday.
The governor challenged the council chairmen to prove that they were not complicit in the noxious business that has continued to threaten the health of Rivers people and the national economy.
Governor Wike stated that his administration was poised to safeguard residents of the state from the hazards and death that are forced upon them by criminal minded operators of artisanal refineries.
“Now, every council chairman must go and identify where illegal refineries are taking place. If you identify one, you get N2million (Two million Naira). So, go and identify as many as you can. I will pay N2million for each one. And I am going to fight against this. Our people are dying and we owe our people the responsibility to protect them, to save them from death they never caused.
“So, you must, and you’re given 48 hours to go and identify all illegal refineries sites, and those who are in charge of them.
Governor Wike emphasised that any of the council chairmen who is afraid to join in the fight against these criminals operating the illegal refineries should be ready to resign, noting that the activities of illegal crude oil refiners did not only constitute health nuisance but depletes the revenue profile of the state.
According to the governor, part of their social contract with their people is also to protect them and stop any illegal economic practices in their domains.
“I’ve called you here to tell you that it is a total war.  It is either we do it or we do not do it. We cannot allow what is going on to continue. Two things; our people are dying, two, it is shortening our own revenue.
The Rivers State governor also frowned at security agencies for the role some of their personnel have played in aiding and providing cover to the operators of the illegal refineries in the State.
The governor urged the State Police Commissioner, Eboka Friday, to redeploy out of the state a particular DPO in Emohua Local Government Area who operates an illegal refinery in the area.
Governor Wike directed the CP to immediately arrest Chief W. J. Wocha, Fubara Ohaka, and chief Promise Ezekwe, who have been fingered for operating illegal refineries deep inside the forest of Ibaa community in Emohua Local Government Area.
The governor further urged Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Rivers State command, to immediately transfer its personnel in charge of vandalisation of pipelines in the State.
Governor urged the Department of State Service (DSS) to profile persons involved in the heinous illegal refining business and make the list available to him. He assured of acting on the list.
Meanwhile Gov Wike has called on the federal government to give priority attention to issues of national security and save Nigerians from incessant killings by bandits.
Gov Wike stated this during the 2022 edition of the Armed Forces  Remembrance Day Ceremony in Port Harcourt.
The Rivers State Governor, who urged the Presidency to effectively mobilise the armed forces to confront the challenges of insurgency, commended the men of the armed forces for their galantary in putting their lives on the line to defend  the unity of Nigeria.
Gov Wike, who donated the sum N50million as support fund to families of the fallen heroes pledged the support of the Rivers State Government to their welfare at all times.

By: Beemene Tanee