GOVERNOR NYESOM WIKE DECLARES NINETEEN PERSONS WANTED FOR OPERATING ILLEGAL REFINERIES IN RIVERS STATE

Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has declared 19 individuals wanted for operating illegal crude oil refining sites which are responsible for the black soot menace in Rivers State.

The governor in a statewide broadcast on Sunday directed the State Head of Service to query one Temple Amakiri, a Director in the Ministry of Energy, for abetting bunkering activities and hand him over to the police for investigation and possible prosecution. He assured the people of Rivers State that his government is determined to effectively tackle the soot menace by destroying and closing down all identified illegal crude oil refining sites and activities across the state.

Governor Wike urged residents of the State to report those involved in illegal crude oil refineries to the State Task Forces which has already been set up at the State and Local Government levels for immediate action. The governor also reaffirmed that the total ban on the use of motorcycles in Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt councils, which was necessitated by the collective threat they posed to the security of lives and property.