Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd), has called on ex-agitators to avoid the temptation of owning illegal refineries in the Niger Delta.
Dikio, who classified operators of illegal refineries as murderers, lamented that they were contributing to the untimely death of many people in the Niger Delta.
The PAP boss spoke in Port Harcourt, Rivers State at a one-day sensitization workshop organised by PAP’s Strategic Communication Committee (STRACOM) at the weekend.
Dikio said everyone living in Port Harcourt was at risk of dying from inhaling toxic substances, especially black soot from such refineries.
He appealed to all stakeholders, especially ex-agitators to collectively bring an end to illegal oil bunkering to save the region from the looming environmental and health disaster.
The PAP boss lauded members of STRACOM for putting together the workshop, saying he would continue to work with them to increase awareness on the negative impact of illegal oil bunkering. He also charged youths in the region to stop making excuses for being idle and seize the numerous opportunities before them to earn a decent living and create employment opportunities for others.
He said: “If you are involved in ‘kpo fire’ (illegal refineries) you are not involved in a good success. You are a murderer pure and simple. Niger Delta is too rich for anybody to be poor. You have to think beyond paper qualification and work for the development of the region. 60% of the small businesses that run America are owned by individuals and most of them don’t have college degrees.
“Here in Nigeria we pride ourselves as the most literate set of immigrants. How many of you are governors or own businesses or are senators? It’s high time we woke up. Collectively, we will change our narrative, Niger Delta will be the safest place to live and do business in Nigeria”, Dikio said.
