Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared 19 persons wanted for operating illegal crude oil refining sites, responsible for soots prevalent in the state. The governor has also directed the Rivers State Head of Service to query one Mr. Temple Amakiri, a director in the Ministry of Energy, for abetting bunkering activities and hand him over to the police for investigation and possible prosecution. The government has resolved to tackle the soot crisis by destroying and closing down all identified illegal refining sites and activities. Wike urged residents to report illegal crude oil refineries and other activities to task forces set up at the state and local government levels, and reaffirmed the ban on the use of motorcycles in Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt councils. He also warned those operating motorcycles shuttles and hawking foreign exchange to leave or be arrested and prosecuted, and accused traditional leadership of collecting money from vendors and allowing street trading activities.
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