-By Opeyemi Victoria
Many have attributed the environmental pollution being experienced in the Niger Delta region as the lack of political will by the Federal Government to fulfil its promise to establish modular refineries in the region.
The establishment of modular refineries has been on the front burner of the federal government for quite some time with little efforts for it to come to fusion. Although, there had been pockets of modular refineries in some parts of Niger Delta, it has not help to solve the situation of illegal bunkering and pollution.
Some people have attributed the lack of modular refineries as the reason why Port Harcourt residents experienced the black soot and other environmental challenges confronting the people of the Niger Delta region.
According to Emperor Mkpe, a traditional ruler in Rivers State, “Since the government brought out the idea of modular refinery, why not implement it, these people are going there to destroy the environment and lives in Rivers State, what is wrong in merely identifying them that this is what they can do and send them on training, give them the resources, establish these local refineries and hand it over to them.”
It is also observed that most of the petroleum products used in Nigeria and beyond the shores of the country are derived from illegal refinery of crude oil which is also known as O fire hence the need for the Federal Government to encourage illegal refiners to do it legally by providing support.
They argued that in other climes, government takes advantage of criminal activities by providing equipment to be beneficial to the state. The government has to be sensitive to the plight of its people not only to sell crude and collect proceeds.
Although the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, said he would clamp down on illegal refinery of crude oil in the state, it behooves on the Federal Government to support the state government to stop the menace considering the health implications of such activities.
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