Black soot gradually disappearing — Navy

The Commander of the Nigerian Navy, Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, Navy Commodore S.J. Bura, has said the technology driven method applied in the destruction of illegal refineries as well as the aggressive onslaught launched against those involved in the criminal activities are the reason why black soot is gradually disappearing in Rivers State and its environs.

Commodore Bura stated this recently in Port Harcourt, after conducting journalists round Billie and Alakiri creeks where men of the command destroyed illegal refinery dumpsites.

He said the use of Swamp Buggy in destroying the tanks, pan and dumpsites used in carrying out illegal refinery activities is the reason for the reduction in black soot.

He said the Chief of Naval Staff had directed the command to apply the best technology that will not emit smoke billows, saying that his men have carried out the directive to the letter, which was why the soot is going down.

He said the command has launched an aggressive onslaught against illegal oil bunkering across the creek, adding however that the difficult terrain of the creeks was posing serious challenge to them.

“We have carried out more than 120 operations in the creeks. We have spent so much money in hiring Swamp Buggy. It cost lots of money to hire the machine. But that is what we have to do to save the environment.

“The civilised methods adopted in destroying the dumps have contributed a lot in bringing down the smoke billow that is the major cause of black soot,” Commodore Bura stated.