Delta warns against illegal petroleum checkpoints

Okowa lauds traditional rulers
Delta State Government has warned against the activities of illegal petroleum task force on highways to extort petroleum tanker drivers, saying it has put mechanisms in place to bring perpetrators to book and curb the illegal activities in the state.

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Petroleum Products Monitoring, Chief Frank Ojenima, in a statement in Asaba, yesterday, expressed government’ displeasure at the rate at which illegal task force checkpoints increased in the state and urged culprits to desist from the act.

He disclosed that illegal task force perpetrators do not remit to government coffers; hence pose a threat to the economic growth of the state.

Ojenima recalled that confrontations between the illegal task force and tanker drivers had led to loss of lives and property in recent times, stressing the need to checkmate sharp practices in the sector.

“It has come to the knowledge of the state government that some persons have constituted themselves into an illegal task force to mount unauthorised petroleum checkpoints within the state. They harass and beat up truck drivers, while collecting money, causing nuisance and traffic on the road.

“We have put a monitoring team across the state to checkmate the menace caused by the petroleum illegal checkpoints in the state,” he said.

The governor’s aide said the task force has liaised with security agencies to bring to book those involved in the act, adding: “Let me use this medium to warn them to stay off the road, because the monitoring team will be going round. If they don’t stop this act, the law will catch up with them.”

He advised tanker drivers apprehended by the illegal task force to report to the office of the petroleum monitoring in Asaba, warning those involved in illegal oil bunkering to desist from the act, as it constitutes an economic sabotage to the country and environmental degradation.

MEANWHILE, Okowa, weekend, applauded traditional rulers in the state for supporting his administration’s peace programmes.

Okowa gave the commendation during the 10th coronation anniversary of the Okobaro of Ughievwen Kingdom, HRM (Dr.) Matthew Ediri Egbi, Owahwa ll at his palace in Otu-Jeremi, Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state.

He noted that royal fathers in the state have been playing unique roles in promoting peace and unity in their respective kingdoms, adding that they should sustain their peace effort so as to consolidate the tempo of development in the state.

He said: “I want to thank all our royal majesties for the roles they have played in consolidating and supporting our peace programmes in the state.

While congratulating the Ughievwen monarch, the governor said the monarch had been a very wonderful king, adding that the Ughievwen monarch was worthy of the state’s support.