Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara says his administration is doing everything possible to curb illegal bunkering activities in the state, but some officers of the Nigerian Army are possibly compromised in parts of Ahoada East and Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Areas.
Governor Fubara made this known when he received the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, on a courtesy visit at Government House on Friday. He said that the suspected officers are attached to a particular company in the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local government area.
According to Sir Fubara, “One special problem that we have here is the issue of bunkering. In some parts of the State, in Ahoada East and Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, most of the bunkering activities there, we believe, are subsisting because there is this cooperation between the Army and high-top oil companies.”
“I’m saying this because there is this road we are constructing in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, and each time the contractors approach this particular company to solicit cooperation to enable them to carry out their obligations, the military always attack the contractors.”
Governor Fubara said he had tried to resolve the situation without success because of the vested interest that the officers have. He urged the Chief of Army Staff to look into the matter and call the officers to order.
“Carrying out some assignments with any company does not give any individual powers to decide how things should be done for the state.”
He commended the army and other security agencies in their efforts to maintain peace and security across the state.
In his speech, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja said he was in Port Harcourt as part of a visit to formations and units under his command following his assumption of office.
He thanked Governor Fubara for his continuous support, intervention and cooperation with the army to perform its operations that have fostered peace and stability in the State.
