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Senate kicks against illegal refineries, urges pollution tax

Soot from illegal refining

By Victor Uzoho

The Senate has tasked the Federal Government to impose a pollution tax on those involved in sabotaging Nigeria’s economy by engaging in illegal refining of crude products in oil-producing areas.

It said such a pollution tax that can be scientifically measured and proceeds therefrom to part-finance the cleaning of the environment and provide medical care to the affected communities.

During plenary on Wednesday, the chamber also called on the Federal Government to sanction security agencies guilty of sabotaging the nation’s interest by vandalising pipeline installations and facilities.

The resolutions were reached by the Senate on a motion titled, “Curbing Soot’s Particulate Droppings, Health Hazards Concerns and Economic Sabotage by Illegal Refining of Crude Products in Rivers State,” sponsored by Senator George Thompson Sekibo (Rivers East), and co-sponsored by seven other lawmakers.

In his presentation, Sekibo explained that droppings of unidentifiable sooty particulates, suspected to be the after-effects of incomplete crude refining process have taken a more dangerous dimension in the state.

Of further concern is that the amount of these particulates being inhaled daily by Nigerians resident in the state cannot be estimated just as the after-effects of their inhalation have not been determined.

The lawmaker noted that an environmental audit due to the degradation of the environment has never been carried out since the commencement of exploitation activities in the area, which has lasted for over 60 years.

He said: “It has become more worrisome that they are seen on bedspreads in bedrooms, worktops in kitchens, chairs and other materials in houses, meaning that they are entering through every available crevice into inner spaces of buildings as the wind carries them.

“Of further concern is that the amount of these particulates being inhaled daily by Nigerians resident in the state cannot be estimated just as the after-effects of their inhalation have not been determined.

“Disturbed that the sooty particulates are dropping on water bodies, farmlands and whatever is left open under the sky, which is detrimental to human health, as residents in the area are exposed to consumption of harvests from the seas and the lands as well as drinking rainwater and water from streams and rivers.”

He also raised the alarm that some security agents deployed to secure these assets have themselves become partners in the crime, thus giving the criminals impetus to openly commit this national economic crime.

Consequently, the Senate in a six-point resolution, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to note the impending environmental danger in Rivers State and its environs, orchestrated by miscreants who engage in illegal refining and looting of national crude oil assets.

The lawmakers urged the president to also audit security agencies saddled with the responsibility of securing these assets but are involved in their sabotage and for them to be sanctioned appropriately.

They advised the president to use his constitutional power to support the Rivers State Government in combating these criminal activities and fishing out the national economic saboteurs.

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