Soot: Jumbo Lauds Wike’s Boldness In Stopping ‘Kpo Fire’

Elder Statesman and National Chairman of Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSCON), Chief Jasper Jumbo, has commended Rivers State Governor, Chief NyesomWike, for his boldness in fighting to eliminate the illegal oil bunkering menace.
Speaking in an interview with The Tide at his Port Harcourt residence, Jumbo said the soot menace caused by illegal oil bunkering has led to the down-turn in the fortunes of Rivers people.
According to the HOSCON national chairman, “It takes a bold leader to come up stoutly and unabashedly against such a menace. It shows integrity in governance”.
Jumbo, however, said that in fighting the ‘Kpo fire’ menace, there was need for an alternative means of livelihood for the operators of illegal refineries.
“Federal Government should as a matter of urgency think of alternative means of employment for the perpetrators, and reasonable palliative in the meantime for the perpetrators”.
He said it was against this background that HOSCON, in its last conference in Port Harcourt, suggested the release of accumulated gas penalty fund to the host communities to enable them use it to boost economic activities in oil and gas producing areas.
He also called for the oil and gas producing communities to be given the license to operate artisanal or modular refineries, adding that this would help check the dearth of employment opportunities in the Niger Delta.
He said, “It will check illegal oil bunkering menace. It will provide alternative employment for those that will find jobs.
“It will stop milking of our oil and at the same time the nation’s revenue”.
The elder statesman further said the situation would encourage the use and development of local technologies in the Niger Delta.

By: John Bibor