Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has offered to give N2million to any local government area chairman that identifies the locations and operators of illegal artisanal refineries.
He said any council chairman afraid to join in the fight against criminals operating illegal artisanal refineries should be ready to resign, urging them to prove they were not complicit in the act.
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The governor who met with the local government chairmen and security agencies at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Friday also gave them a 48-hour ultimatum to provide a comprehensive list of illegal refineries and their operators within their jurisdictions.
“It is a total war. It is either we do it or we don’t do it. We cannot allow what is going on to continue. Our people are dying and it is shortening our own revenue,” he said.
The Rivers State governor also condemned security agents aiding and providing cover to the operators of the illegal refineries in the state.
