Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has appealed to the Ijaw communities to desist from illegal bunkering, citing its devastating impact on the environment and community development efforts.
Receiving a delegation of Ijaw Community in Abuja, Lokpobiri commended their solidarity with the Ministry’s objectives and President Bola Tinubu’s transformation drive in the oil sector.
However, he emphasized the need for collective action against illegal bunkering, stressing its harmful effects on the environment and the Host Community Development Trust aspect of the Petroleum Industry Act.
He said, “I urge you to reach out to our communities in the Niger Delta and sensitise them on the dangers of illegal bunkering.
“This criminal activity poses a serious threat to our environment and undermines community development efforts, including a diversion of attention from the Community Trust Fund Initiative of the federal government.
“However, by focusing on these critical measures, I believe we can realize our shared objectives, and I count on the unwavering support of the Ijaw Nation in this regard.”
