Ijaws Seek Govt Support For Local Refineries' Operation

The Ijaw Peoples’ Development Initiative (IPDI), at the weekend, urged the military to stop further destruction of local refineries in the Niger Delta, saying they were not illegal as charged.
National President of the group, Austin Ozobo, in a press statement, said: “The local refineries help in controlling price and availability of petroleum, diesel and kerosene products in the country, and government should regulate, rather than destroy the technology.”
The group said: “It is, therefore, unfair to describe its operation as illegal. What is illegal about it? No innovation or technology is illegal in the world. The government can regulate its operation and earn revenue from it. It is subject to improvement.
“They should think of improving the robust local technology and stop destroying them. The Army and Navy, which destroy stolen crude or locally refined products are another set of economic saboteurs against the nation’ economy. They are not different from oil thieves and vandals because both efforts gear towards bleeding the nation’s economy.
“That local refineries are not owned by government does not make them illegal. The government is sectional and lopsided, that is why they fail to see the beauty of this local technology,” IPDI asserted.
It noted: “Local refineries in the South complement other refineries in the country. They help in controlling price and availability of petroleum products in the country, such as petrol, diesel and kerosene. The Nigerian government does not see the beauty of the business because it is being operated by people of the most neglected Niger Delta. But it would have been welcomed if it were operated by the northerners.
“Local refinery bunkering business has created thousands of jobs for interested jobless persons and young school leavers all over the Niger Delta region and the western part of this country, and had drastically reduced crime rate in the region. The activities of local refinery have reduced poverty among aborigines in these regions.
“The so-called illegal refineries could be converted to modular refineries. If the government thinks it is illegal, let them legalize it by either issuing operational licences or permits. It can be regulated in such a way that the operators will be buying raw crude direct from NNPC at local price,” the group stated.
IPDI said: “Of what importance is the destruction of impounded stolen crude. It is unfair to destroy it, looking at its economic importance. Whether stolen or impounded, such does not reduce or devalue the crude or other locally-refined products. If the government is wise, such impounded products can be converted to assist the dying economy. Instead of burning it or wasting it, it is better to allow the citizens use it to develop themselves.
 “The local refineries help to checkmate activities of militants and pirates in the region as thousands of jobless persons now earn a living from it. Operators of local refineries are neither oil thieves, nor pipeline vandals; they buy to refine.
“They are different from oil thieves, vandals and saboteurs, who are seeking pipeline repair and surveillance contracts. Oil thieves are those, who use vessels and barges to siphon crude from pipelines and export it. These include NNPC top staff, politicians, Army and Navy officers,” it said.
It added: “Local refinery operators buy remnants or spill overs from such cartels to refine. They buy to refine, and do not siphon from pipelines to get their products. The government of President Muhammadu Buhari, and its military should have a rethink, and stop further destruction of the nation’s economic resources.”