Diepiriye Queen. Communication Officer representing, “Rivers State Network of Non-Governmental organizations (RINNGOs)” on behalf of “Center for Human Right, Health, Ethnic Harmony and Livelihood Development”(CHHELD), at a fact finding meeting between the Rivers State House of Assembly Committee on Environment and the Chairmen of Degema, Obio-Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Area of River State.
Degema Local Government Area
The meeting with the Degema Local Government Area Council Chairman, Hon. Michael J. Williams held at the LGA council at Degema, where he briefed the members of the Rivers State House Committee on Environment on the effort he is making to reduce the activities of crude oil refiners and bunkering, locally called kpo-fire, and the inherent environmental and health challenges it pose to the society and residents. The illegal artisanal refining activities in Degema has for several months led to the appearance of black sooth in most parts of the state including Degema Local Government Area.
The Chairman welcomed the representatives of the House of Assembly members on environment and their team. In his speech, he condemned the act, classifying it as “Danger Specie”. According to him, he conducted a survey and noticed that Degema LGA is one of the highest LGA where illegal artisanal refining activities is prevalent. In his effort to track these enemies of the environment, he engaged the Community Development Committees (CDC) of the various communities in the local government area and the military to fight against illegal crude oil refiners and illegal artisanal refining in DEGEMA local government. The Chairman talked about the difficulties in navigating the narrow creeks and the mischievous acts of those operating at the illegal artisanal refining (kpo-fire) sites. He also spoke of his plans to revisit the creeks, in his quest to rid Degema LGA of the nefarious illegal artisanal refining activities and its attendant health and environment implications. He also informed the House of the committee on environment that he has setup a task force to fight illegal crude oil refiners in DEGEMA local government, comprising the CDCs and the military. The committee, he said will kick off its operations by next week. The chairman talked about the penalty to every offender. At the end he acknowledged that one kpo-fire site has been destroyed.
Hon Christian Ahiakwo representing ONELGA constituency 1 member of the House of Assembly Committee on Environment, advised the Chairman of the need to take safety measures while disposing this products of illegal artisanal refining. In his words “avoid another problem while trying to solve one”. Instead of destruction, drums should be made available to store them. Hon Christian Ahiakwo, thanked the Chairman for his efforts and encouraged him to do more, and also to improve their social media visibility so the State Government can be aware of the actions taken by him.



`Attended by the following dignitaries:
Chairman of DEGEMA LGA – Hon. Michael J. Williams
Chairman House committee On Environment Rivers state House of Assembly- Hon Barrister Dumle Maol.
Member of House committee on Environment-Hon Christian Ahiakwo.
Member House committee on Environment- Hon Anthony Soberekon.
Member House committee on Environment – Hon Lolo Opuende.
Member – House committee on Environment Hon Prince Ngbor.
House committee on Environment Clerk- Zaga Phimia
House committee on Environment Attorney- Barrister Amonia Amaso.
Rep. from RINNGOs- Miss Diepiriye Queen-(Communications Officer Centre for Human Rights Health Ethnic Harmony &Livelihood Development (CHHELD)
OBIO/AKPOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
At the Obio-Akpor Local Government Area Council Office at Rumuodumaya, the Executive Chairman, Hon. George T. Ariolu JP welcomed the committee on Environment from House of Assembly. Hon (Barr) Dumle Maol spoke about the reason for the visit concerning the soot situation in Rivers State. The Executive Chairman of Obio/Akpor LG commended the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. On his actions towards ending illegal artisanal refining. According to the chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA, he has setup a committee with him as the leader of the committee to fight illegal artisanal refining in Obio/Akpor local government area. After research was carried out, it was discovered that Obio/Akpor local government area is used for storage of this illegal petroleum products. A place was discovered around GRA by skippers where an underground tank was found at a residential area. His committee also works at night to fight illegal artisanal refining in Obio/Akpor. The Chairman also urged the Government to look into the activities of security operatives involved in this act. The products seized from the illegal artisanal refining in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area is stored and has not been disposed.



Attended by the following dignitaries:
Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA – Hon. George T. Ariolu JP
Chairman House committee On Environment Rivers state House of Assembly- Hon. Barrister Dumle Maol.
Member of House committee on Environment-Hon Christian Ahiakwo.
Member House committee on Environment- Hon Anthony Soberekon.
Member House committee on Environment – Hon Lolo Opuene.
Member – House committee on Environment Hon Prince Ngbor.
House committee on Environment Clerk- Zaga Phimia
House committee on Environment Attorney- Barrister Amonia Amaso.
Rep. from RINNGOs- Miss Diepiriye Queen-(Communications Officer Centre for Human Rights Health Ethnic Harmony &Livelihood Development (CHHELD).
PHALGA
At the Port Harcourt Local Government Area Council Office in Port Harcourt, the meeting held at the office of the Chairman, Sir Hon. Allwell Ihunda (JP). The clerk House of Assembly committee on environment, introduced the committee and informed them of the purpose of the visit. The Mayor on behalf of Port Harcourt LGA thanked the committee for coming and also thanked the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. On the actions taken to curb illegal artisanal refining in River State.
The PHALGA chairman informed the team that a Task force has been set up to ensure that illegal petroleum refining is put to a stop. According to Him, a fact finding and advocacy visit was carried out to areas of concern and no illegal artisanal refining site was discovered. It was noticed that Port Harcourt is used as a dump site for illegally refined petroleum products. Those involved in the act were reached out to, and appealed to stop or else drastic steps would be taken against them in accordance with the law.
Also on the 17th of January 2022, an operation was carried out at Eagle Island at about 12:30pm to 1:00am after information about some illegal artisanal refining activity and a truck was seized. Machinery and Surveillance has also been put in place to carry out further arrest if need be.
In conclusion, the Chairman stated his concern about disposing the products properly to avoid pollution.
To provide solution for his concerns, Hon Christian Ahiakwo representing ONELGA constituency1 member of the House of Assembly committee on Environment, advised that the products from the illegal artisanal refining should first be recovered, stored in a safe place. And the Governor of Rivers State, Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike should be reached out to because it requires the attention of the Federal Government as they would have a better idea on what to do about the seized products. The meeting ended with a vote of thanks by the Mayor of Port Harcourt City, Sir Hon Allwell Ihunda (JP).


Attended by the following dignitaries:
The Centre for Human Rights Health Ethnic Harmony and Livelihood Development(CHHELD) also known as Harmony Centre frowns at the activities of illegal artisanal refining and its inherent effect on the environment. Harmony Centre prays on the government to explore positive opportunities that are peculiar to the aforementioned issue and leverage on these opportunities to better the lot of the common man.
Chairman of PHALGA – Hon. Allwell Ihunda (JP).
Chairman House committee On Environment Rivers state House of Assembly- Hon Barrister Dumle Maol.
Member of House committee on Environment-Hon Christian Ahiakwo.
Member House committee on Environment- Hon Anthony Soberekon.
Member House committee on Environment – Hon Lolo Opuene.
Member – House committee on Environment Hon Prince Ngbor.
House committee on Environment Clerk- Zaga Phimia
House committee on Environment Attorney- Barrister Amonia Amaso.
Rep. from RINNGOs- Miss Diepiriye Queen-(Communications Officer Centre for Human Rights Health Ethnic Harmony & Livelihood Development (CHHELD).