The Executive Director of Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC) and National Facilitator of Project with Artisanal Crude Oil Refiners (PACOR) for Modular Refineries in the Niger Delta, Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface on Thursday, January 20, 2022 joined and accompanied the Executive Chairman of Emohua LGA, Hon. Chidi Lloyd, Ph.D, the Local Government Taskforce on illegal refining, security operatives and others to assess some illegal artisanal refining sites in the LGA. Two areas were visited. In the first area, three recently operated artisanal refining sites were seen with massive pollution on the ground and water bodies. The chairman pointed at one of the three sites said to belong to an Ogoni and said his name will be submitted to security operatives as well.

At the second area, over 16 Artisanal Refining sites were seen with different sizes of gigantic ovums (pots for crude Oil Refining), all under construction at about 85% completion levels. Among these we were told by the chairman and shown the site allegedly owned by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) that Governor Nyesom Wike said.

Of the two areas and multiple sites visited, none were “destroyed” in my presence as today was meant for sites assessment. In dismantling the sites which is the next line of action as directed by the Governor, the council chairman promised to ensuring that the exercise is environmental-friendly.

The advocacy is on and should be embraced by all while artisanal refiners should stop and embrace proposed alternative livelihood opportunities for environmental sustainability in the Niger Delta.