NSCDC in Rivers says it will no longer burn illegal refineries

The Rivers Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has stopped destroying illegal refineries and petroleum products storage tanks with fire.

Mr Lawal Haruna, the Commandant of NSCDC in Rivers, said this while speaking with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

He said that the command took the decision because of the environmental implications of burning the refineries and storage tanks.

He said that even though illegal refineries and storage tanks were usually destroyed in the process, their contents were allowed to leak out of the tanks.

The commandant, therefore, faulted the destruction method, saying that it was capable of destroying aquatic life in the affected areas.

Haruna, however, noted that oil pipeline vandalism had reduced considerably in Rivers due to the aggressive campaign against the vice and the collaborative efforts of all the security agencies in the state.

NAN reports that whenever NSCDC burns illegal refineries and storage tanks, black sooth is released into the atmosphere and this could have health implications on residents.

NAN recalls that Dr Nnanna Chinyere, Director of Public Health, Rivers Ministry of Health, had advised the people against drinking rainwater on account of the presence of black sooth in the atmosphere.

Chinyere then warned that the black sooth could cause some heath challenges for the residents, particularly those who drank rainwater.