by crossriverwatch admin
Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, has called on the National Assembly to put in place a proper legislation in the country to regulate the siting of petroleum tank farms in order to protect the environment and check pollution.
Imoke who made the call when he received members of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Down Stream) led by its Chairman, Hon. Dakuku Peter-Side, on a courtesy visit to Government House Calabar, said the call became necessary as the operators of the facilities have violated relevant environmental laws thereby exposing their host communities to danger.
He averred that a well articulated legislation will streamline activities of the operators of the tank farms who rarely consider the environmental impact of their activities, saying that a law must urgently be put in place to sanitize the sector and save the people from the hazardous consequences that may arise.
He decried the negative impact of tank farms to the state as emerging ultimate destination for business and leisure in the country, saying that if such activities are not checked it will affect its tourism drive initiative.
While commending the Federal Government for its plan to extend the East –West Road to Calabar through the Chinese facility, the governor explained that the dredging of Calabar channel will drastically reduce cost of transportation of petroleum products because it will allow bigger vessels to berth in Calabar directly instead of subletting them to small tankers which has contributed to high overhead cost.
Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Down Stream), Hon. Dakuku Peter-Side, said the team was in the state for a two-day statutory oversight function to inspect projects under its purview, interact with relevant stakeholders in the sector as well as ascertain the utilization of budgetary provisions to the sector.
He lauded Governor Imoke for his effort in positioning Cross River as investors’ and tourism hub in the sub Saharan Africa, saying that the peaceful, serene environment and tranquility in the state which he could attest to, is why so many industries are now opening shop in the state.
Peter-Side described Imoke as an apostle of qualitative infrastructure and tourism to diversify the mono economy of the country, saying that Cross River State is very strategic to the development of Nigerian economy with the potentials it currently harbors.
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