PRESS RELEASE 10-01-2022

*WAR AGAINST SOOT (CARBON BLACK)*
*Together we can WIN the Soot battle.*

*ActionAgainstSootInTheNigerDelta* commends the *Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike,* for walking the talk.

Recall that on New Year’s Day (January 1, 2022) the Governor declared war against Soot in the State, what many thought would be mere rhetoric. A week later, precisely Sunday January 9, 2022 the action of his words were evident to the great people of Rivers State.

The government’s effort and achievements in a relatively short period of time deserves standing ovation from everyone in Rivers State for the following reasons:

1. It is for our collective interest as against the selfish interest of few.

2. Like the coronavirus pandemic, soot has threatened our very existence for the past six years and counting.

3. Soot is *obviously apolitical*

4. Data at our disposal clearly shows that soot is *life-threatening,* and more than 80% of people living in Rivers State have experienced it.

Our decisions as a society are *often times* based on evidence; as such, having gleaned useful data to aid our fight against soot, we offer to *work collaboratively*  with the government and other relevant stakeholders in finding lasting solution to this menace by providing insights, relevant data and strategies to enable us transit from illegal refineries to legal – modular refineries.

Finally,  *we accord* full credit to the E.N Wike led government in recognition of this feat; and as a pressure group, we hereby call on all *well-meaning* citizens to lend their voice and support to the government to enable us WIN the battle against Soot not only in Rivers State but the entire Niger Delta region.

We believe that one is good, two is better and a threefold cord cannot be easily broken. Action they say changes things. Let’s act now and save lives!

Thank you.

God bless Rivers State.
God bless the Niger Delta.
God bless Nigeria.

Signed.
For: *ActionAgainstSootInTheNigerDelta*

*Benibo Daboye Bourdillon*
*Oyet Precious Raphael*
*Stephanie Ekpebulu Esq.*