In compliance with the 48hours ultimatum given by Gov Nyesom Wike to the local government chairmen to identify illegal refining sites of ‘kpofire’ and their operators, the chairman of Tai Local Government Area, Hon. Nbakpone Okpe has pledged a sum of N1,000,000.00 to anyone that can give useful information on any bunkering site in the area.
He made this known while speaking to newsmen in his office, saying the actions was to spur the people of Tai to enable him and the taskforce to know and identify the locations and storage sites of illegal refining petroleum products in order to end the ongoing menace of soots in the state.
“I decided to use the resources of the local government to pledge a sum of one million naira to whosoever that can give us information or lead us to any site in the local government area.
With this pledge it will spur everyone to go deeply in doing the surveillance job but I plead with all not to lie against anyone or persons because of the money,” he warned.
He said as the chairman, he has done a lot of surveillance within his territory but unable to find one but called on all and sundry to go to the nooks and crannies of the local government area so as to end the issue of soot in the state.
According to him, the act of stealing the crude oil has a great damaging effect on the nation’s economy and the health of the people endangered due to illegal bunkering activities.
The council boss disagreed to the notion that the illegal bunkering has discouraged the youth from going into crime and other social vices, saying kpofire has done more evil than good because the adulterated product has destroyed lives and properties through the outbreak of fire, the ecosystem and the soot itself.
He noted that the boys involved in the illegal bunkering do so to acquire arms for further destruction of lives and properties, causing havoc and damage to the society.
“I do know that the economy is bad and people are looking for other means to survive but not to survive at the detriment of other.
“Do what is meaningful while we continue to encourage the government to do the needful for the interest of the masses,” he advised.
Hon. Okpe said the oath they took to protect lives and properties is sacrosanct therefore government will do everything possible to fight against illegal bunkering and other life-threatening actions against the masses.
