The Rivers State Government, says it cannot stop illegal oil refining because it is not the Federal Government, saddled with such responsibility.
Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Peter Meede said this during a chat with journalists in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
He said the state governor is only a Logistics Officer and not the Chief Security Officer of the state, adding that he has no such power since he does not control security operatives.
He stated that all agencies of the Federal Government saddled with the responsibility of curbing crude oil theft are in the state, but have failed to do so.
Peter Meede also said the scarcity created by the nation’s faulty refineries fuels oil theft in the state.
He said if the refineries were working there would be no need for people to engage oil bunkering.
He advised residents to report such illegal activities to his ministry and security agencies.
