The Minister of States for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, made the promise on Thursday while delivering his speech at the 6th National Council on Hydrocarbon held in Port Harcourt.

The minister, who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources Nasir Gwazor, said he was deeply concerned about the soot, adding that his ministry will work with the federal ministry of environment to tackle the issue.

“My good people of Port Harcourt, the soot is unacceptable. It has made life hellish for residents.

“The Ministry of Petroleum Resources, therefore, realises this problem and we are going to continue to work with the Ministry of Environment to provide a lasting solution.”

On his part, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, who was represented by his commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Doctor Peter Medee, appealed to Rivers people to avoid the temptation of stealing what belongs to them and in the process destroy oil installations.

He called on the people “to continue to support the efforts of the federal government to strengthen the production of crude oil as today the major chunk of revenue of this country that will drive the sustenance of the economy is from this sector.

“It is on that note that we call on you to avoid illegal practices and negative tendencies that will affect this noble provision that God has given to us”.

At the end of the summit, 38 memoranda from various groups and agencies were approved by the council for onward consideration and possible action.

Competence5050:
Timipre silver, the worst Niger Delta son... Vulture tueh

Vultures! Na now them see the soot

You just have to see as election is approaching

Hmmmm Mtcheeeew

Partner with FG Rivers will soon start boiling

Competence5050:
Timipre silver, the worst Niger Delta son... Vulture tueh

He called on the people “to continue to support the efforts of the federal government to strengthen the production of crude oil as today the major chunk of revenue of this country that will drive the sustenance of the economy is from this sector.

chrisxxx:
There is no magic needed to tackle soot problem in Rivers State and other affected states. The guys involved in this do it in the open. Come to PH and see black soot rising to the cloud. Smoke does not hide. Come and see black cloud.
The police and military give them protection. They only tackle those who have not settled

Sammy07:


All the Niger delta People in Govt no dey try for their people at all
Silver, Amaechi, Omo agege, Festus

uddeze:
We dunno the long term effects of this thing we inhale on a daily. I worry for children who's lungs are still developing. It's not by opening mouth waaaa and start making statements you cannot keep. For our atmosphere to be completely clear or almost free from soot there has to be conscious effort to tackle the indiscriminate burning of petroleum products when seized by the military operatives. They have to be educated on what to do whenever they discover an illegal camp cooking products but sadly corruption has really penetrated the military too. Everybody want their cut of the national treasury. This project is a long-term one because it'll take years to achieve. It'll outlive even the next administration. Nature takes its time to heal just the way it took time to cause the damage.

Manolo213:
The door is not caused bunkering or illegal refining of petroleum products, if that was the case...Delta bayelsa and Owerri would have been affected by black spot too because of high bunkering activities....I can tell you that the company causing these hazard is well known by the Federal government and Rivers state government...the company pays very high penalty fee for their activities....but out government collects the money and look the other way.... Trust me I know the name and location of the company.

szczescie:
Shut up

This one pass Una

You guys lack the technical know how to tackle this

Also Wike has allowed unregulated and illegal bunkering to go on everywhere in Rivers state. The whole state Choba, emohua and co. Are like factories


Police and army wait beside the road by the bushes for the bunkerers to come out of the bushes where they do Their cooking and then settle them, you see people on small lorries covered with tampaulin or some other covering and motorcycles with yellow 50 litres full of petrol or other refined products, the army and police come in their numbers from all divisions around to get their monetary cuts, the only time you will have problem is if you don't settle them then guess what they shoot at you indescriminately and set all the products on fire then and there, they almost burnt down the whole of choba that way, when they set fire to boats carrying refined fuel on the Choba river and the river surface started catching fire because the river is full of oil floating the fire was so huge I could see it from my house. People living around had already packed whatever they could to flee, we could feel the heat, hear things burning and exploding and we could see the smoke and even the fire.


My nose is like car exhaust every morning inside is black, my fan I have to clean it every 5 days because it gathers soot, very thick heavy black dust, if you see me cleaning it you'll think it had been abandoned for years.

This morning like every other morning in a very long time it always smells funny in the morning, so I have to close all my windows till around 9am or 10am before I can open them because it smells like something I can't describe but you just know this smell is toxic and unhealthy because most times it is nauseous.

In the morning cars, roofs etc are covered in layers of dark dust.

Sammy07:


All the Niger delta People in Govt no dey try for their people at all
Silver, Amaechi, Omo agege, Festus

Wiseandtrue:

Vultures! Na now them see the soot

You just have to see as election is approaching

Hmmmm Mtcheeeew

Partner with FG Rivers will soon start boiling