Ipalibo Banigo Seeks Support to end ‘Kpo fire’ in Rivers State

Worried by the health hazard continuous pollution of the environment has caused, due to the activities of illegal crude refiners popularly called Kpo fire operators, Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, has solicited the support of the Community Development Committees (CDC) in the 23 local government areas of the state.

Speaking at a consultative meeting last Friday, at Delta Hotels, in Port Harcourt, she urged the CDC Chairmen and secretaries from the 23 local government areas, to enlighten and sensitize their people about the dangers inherent in artisanal refining of crude oil, which has resulted in the emission of black soot.

According to the deputy governor, when scientists examined the particles of the soot in Port Harcourt and its environs, they discovered that those particles were very dangerous to human health, plants and animals.

Banigo further disclosed that it can cause cancer and damage virtually all the organs of the body like the lungs, heart, the kidneys and the skin.

She informed the CDC members that the state government under the leadership of Governor Nyesom Wike was committed to put an end to the problem by providing better alternative to the people in the form of modular refineries.

She assured them that government would not victimize anyone who abandons his or her artisanal refining business to embrace the modular refinery programme.

In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Igbiks Tamuno, revealed that in Rivers State, with a population of over seven million people, the “Kpo fire” activities were spread across 14 local government areas with some LGAs having as much as 10 locations.

Igbiks, who said the effects of the soot were seen everywhere, expressed worry that while some artisanal refinery operators smile to the banks, majority of the innocent people were suffering from the illegal activities of a few, stressing that the state government was determined to put an end to the menace.

The Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Dr. Peter Medee, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, who is also the chairman of the Awareness Committee on the Prevention of Coronavirus in the state, were also at the event.

On his part, the Coordinator-General of the Forum of Community Development Committees in Rivers State, Mr John Onwubualili, who spoke on behalf of members of the forum, said that the initiative, if implemented, was capable of addressing the myriad of environmental challenges facing the region, while building the economic capacity of the people to respond to the needs of the present day realities.

He endorsed the concept of modular refineries, and pledged readiness to support government efforts to float modular refineries in parts of the state as a mechanism for checking unemployment and rising criminality.