Bayelsa Moves To End Illegal Crude Oil Refineries

Bayelsa state governor, Seriake-Dickson(Photo Credits: File Photo)

The Bayelsa State Government is planning to establish a task force to check and curb activities of illegal crude oil refinery operators in the deep mangrove swamp of the state.

The state governor, Mr Seriake Dickson, stated this in Yenagoa on the occasion of this year’s World Environment Day.

He said that his government has employed the services of international forensic experts who would investigate the effects of continuous oil pollution on the environment and the potential health risk it can cause for people in the state.

He said the report he received from the experts were depressing and saddening and assured that the report would be made available to the world in due time.

Calling for collective efforts to reclaim the environment, he noted with concern that decades of oil pollution and gas flaring in the state and the Niger Delta had resulted in rising cases of health hazards, thereby shortening the life span of the people.

He called on people of goodwill to hearken to the call for the protection of the environment especially in the Niger Delta, which according to him, had been under severe, sustained and brutal attack by forces that they do not control.

“They have not only invaded the land and expropriated our people’s property but are now threatening to exterminate the people.

“A lot of actions would be taken and we will mobilise local and international opinions on this. There are legislative measures that I will also call on the state Assembly to undertake, “ he said.