The Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Engr Samuel Nwanosike, has stated that it would be very painful if oil bunkerers return to the area months after decimation.
Nwanosike made the statement when he conducted a Bloomberg News reporter, Mr Joe Williams, round the illegal oil refinery sites at Ogbodo, Isiokpo.
Bloomberg News is an international media organisation based in New York, the United States of America.
He said, “You can imagine all the efforts government has put in place to make sure we stop this illegal oil refinery. It will be very painful if after some months they return back again”.
The chairman avowed that international oil companies (IOCs), particularly Heirs Oil and Gas Company Limited, would be held responsible if their contractors compromised by allowing the oil thieves to return again.
According to him, “So, we are saying that the IOCs, we would hold them responsible if their contractor compromise to allow these oil thieves come back again. So, we are calling on Heirs, who has bought this facility from Shell, to know that you must invest money in your facility. Part of the investment is providing security for this facility”.
Nwanosike advised Heirs to get a reputable contractor that would protect its facilities if the present one it has does not have the capacity to protect them.
He said that with the assistance of the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, he had been able to remove all the illegal lines the oil bunkerers were using to tap crude oil from the flow lines of Shell, while calling on Shell and Heirs to totally support the council and Wike in the fight against artisanal oil refining.
Nwanosike Warns Against Return Of Illegal Oil Bunkerers
