Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Reactions have begun to trail the ongoing clamp down of artisanal refineries and oil bunkering sites in Rivers State by Governor Nyesom Wike and the 23 local government chairmen in the state, which is aimed at tackling the menace of soot pollution in the state.
Recall that experts, civil society groups, local communities, the media, and youths had in the last five years engaged in sustained research and advocacy with the aim of getting the governments and its regulatory agencies to take decisive actions to halt the persistent ambient air pollution in Rivers State.
On January 1st, 2022, Governor Nyesom Wike declared a war against illegal oil refining and bunkering activities, which has been a major accelerator of soot in the state, resulting in the clampdown of many identified illegal refineries and a wanted list of persons suspected to be illegal refining kingpins.
As a result, reactions and commendations have poured in from individuals, professional and civil society groups, including the Environmental Rights Action, Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Eco, the Nigerian Bar Association and also a federal lawmaker, representing Khana-Gokana federal constituency in the House of Reps, Mr Dum Dekor.
The Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Eco particularly commended the governor for his resolved to end soot in the state, describing it as heroic and valiant, while also supporting the Governor’s call on the Federal Government to respond to the issues giving rise to the soot epidemic in the state
Charter President, Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Eco, Rtn Emem Okon, said Governor Wike’s declaration of war against soot barely a month after the Soot Conference organized by the Club and its partners, shows the level of impact of the conference.
Okon recalled that the Soot Conference created the awareness that the health implications of the soot and how everyone in Rivers state was a smoker by reason of inhaling soot on a daily basis, thus “dying by installment”.
She said the Conference recommended the stablishment of cellular refineries and legitimize artisanal refining activities, turning them from an informal “illegal” sector into a normal official sector of the economy that can be taxable.
Other recommendations, according to her were, “Establish air quality management authority and other air quality indices as well as air quality monitoring stations in epicenter of the soot epidemic. Security agencies to stop burning of “Kpo Fire” sites and products.
“Political will to end gas flaring. Appropriate disposal of hydrocarbon substances. Provision of employment for teeming unemployed youths. Massive Tree Planting. Identification and containment of pollution sites at source.”
Similarly, the Chairman, House of Reps Committee on Host Communities, Mr. Dumnamene Dekor, has commended Governor Nyesom Wike for steps being taken to tackle the activities of illegal refining of crude oil by declaring the operators wanted and personally visiting some illegal refining sites.
Dekor, who is the member representing Khana/Gokana in the House of Reps, said the proactive steps taken by Governor Wike to clamp down the illegal business of Kpo-fire, would drastically reduce the menace of soot in the State.
He called on community leaders to join the Governor in the struggle to bring an end to illegal crude oil refining activities in their localities to end the menace of soot in Rivers State by reporting those behind the illegal business in their communities to the law enforcement agencies.
“You all know that the State has been battling the challenge of soot worsened by the illegal business of refining petroleum products, popularly called kpo-fire.
“You are also aware of the agony, pains and sicknesses associated with the environmental hazard which has regularly contaminated the air in our dear state with devastating health implications. But thank God for the swift intervention of the Governor and the successes recorded so far.”
Meanwhile, the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, has applauded the current action by the Rivers state government to address the issues of oil theft and refining of stolen crude oil and the consequent release of soot into the environment.
Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo, Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, said although illegal refining activities was one of the accelerators of soot, gas flaring and inept regulatory agencies were also a major challenge.
Ojo also called for the development of a holistic framework that addresses both the supply of artisanal products and the high demands for these products in our communities which include rising cost of living, unemployment, and severe impact from hydrocarbon pollution on rural livelihoods.
“Although artisanal refining of crude oil is indicated as the current accelerator of soot and ambient air pollution in the Niger Delta region, it is also important to point out that decades of reckless exploration and production activities by multinational companies such as Shell, ill maintained oil pipelines and facilities, gas flaring and lax regulatory framework are responsible for the dangerous situation in which millions of people who reside in the Niger Delta region now find themselves.
“Hospitals across Rivers State are reporting a marked uptick in patients presenting with respiratory illnesses especially young children whose lungs are unable to withstand the constant poisoning from air pollution. There are also reports of increase in patients suffering severe burns from explosions resulting from utilizing improperly refined kerosene from artisanal refining processes.
“Although the current action of the Rivers State government is a welcomed respite for the people of the state, more still needs to be done. The governments of other Niger Delta states need to take similar actions by identifying and properly decommissioning all artisanal stolen crude oil refining sites in their states to halt this self-inflicted destruction of our environment and unnecessary loss of lives.”
In the same vein, the Nigerian Bar Association has also commended governor Wike for what they described as his decisive actions geared towards taming the illicit activities of operation of illegal refineries in the State.
Chairman of NBA Port Harcourt Branch, Barr Prince Nyekwere, said the unwholesome activities of illegal refineries have led to the hydra-headed monster of black soots in Rivers State and the concomitant negative impact on the environment and health of residents.
“We are pleased our last Annual Law Week gathering has yielded the desired results as evidenced by the Governor’s onslaught on operators of illegal refineries that has occasioned the rolling billows of the malignant black soots and concomitant environmental hazards.
“We commend the Rivers State Governor for the bold steps taken against operators of illegal refineries while pledging its support urged the governor to sustain the fight until the battle is won.”
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