FG mulls legalising illegal refineries’ to transform Niger Delta
Amidst the challenges of
inadequate local refining capacity and meeting demand for refined petroleum
products, the federal government seems to be thinking of encouraging artisanal
refineries which had bridged the product supply gap for decades.
Although outlawed, more
than 60 percent of diesel and kerosene used in the region are sourced from local
bush refineries produced from stolen crude through fractional distillation.
Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh
(Rtd) Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta has said the federal
government plans to liberalise modular refineries to develop the oil rich Niger
Delta region.
Boro who is also and Coordinator
of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, assured the people of the region that
the proposed modular refineries in oil producing communities will engender a
new era in the Niger Delta region.
Gen. Boroh on Saturday
in Yenagoa restated the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led
federal towards the people of the Niger Delta region.
He maintained that the
federal government’s intention of making oil bearing the hub for refining and
related activities will not only create
decent jobs and income for the people, but put them in a better position to
drive the local economy.
He applauded the federal
government’s new vision for the region.
Boroh appealed to the
youths to be calm, focused and more articulate in their quest for better living
conditions and take advantage of the good gestures of the present
administration.
The Amnesty Cordinator
explained that the federall government is seeking better ways for Niger Delta
people to participate in the development process of the region through meaning
engagements.
According to the Amnesty
boss, the federal government’s new partnership arrangement will bring about an
unprecedented infrastructural development in the region.
Boro explained that
government was working with the oil
producing states, local governments, oil companies and the private sector,
including civil society organizations to achieve sustainable development in
Niger Delta.
Boroh commended the Acting
President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for taking the pains to identify with the people
through his tour of the region.
According to Boroh, the
planned oil-communities-intervention-meeting by the federal government to chart
short, medium and long term development blueprint was a strategy to enhance the socio-economic
activities in the region.
He expressed the hope
that with the proposed coming on stream of modular refineries in oil bearing
communities, the ex-agitators and other youths in the region will be
meaningfully engaged in decent jobs.
He further said that,
those with entrepreneurial skills in oil and gas can participate in the
petro-chemical industries in their communities which will soon become the new
hub for refining activities.
Meanwhile, the
leadership of Phase II ex-agitators in the Niger Delta region in a reaction to
the development applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for demonstrating his
sincere wish for the people of the region,
The ex-agitators said
that the option of allowing modular refineries to be located in oil bearing
communities in the Niger Delta region speaks volume of the sincere intentions
of the present administration towards the Niger Delta youths
Chairman of phase
II ex-agitators , Hon Salvation Rifus,
has said that the tour of the oil communities by the Acting President had shown
that the feral government was committed to development .
He noted that the
decision to allow the oil bearing communities to legally operate modular
refineries was the best thing that has happened to the people, describing it as
a welcome development
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