Youth representatives from the 19 Northern states, under the Northern Youths Progressive Network, have urged security agencies to ensure the prosecution of those involved in operating the 63 illegal refineries recently uncovered by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited in Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia, Imo, and Delta States......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
In a press statement made available to Journalists in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, on Sunday, the Convener of the group, Comrade Bala Mohammed, expressed the group’s satisfaction with the recent discovery and confiscation of illegal oil assets by the NNPCL in the five states.
The group stressed that prosecuting the culprits is necessary to deter others and curb the growing menace of illegal refining.
Comrade Mohammed commended the NNPCL for its pragmatic and collaborative efforts, which led to the impressive discovery of a total of 177 incidents recorded between August 3 and 9, involving illegal activities such as pipeline connections and oil theft.
The statement reads in part,
“No doubt, the NNPCL’s recent discovery and confiscation of products from 63 illegal refineries in the past week of its ongoing battle against crude oil theft in the country is quite alarming but heart-warming. “Report at our disposal indicates that the 63 illegal refineries were discovered and confiscated in Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia, Imo, and Delta States, with a vandalised and barricaded oil wellhead also uncovered in Bayelsa State. “It is heart-warming to note that the NNPCL had recovered 19 illegal pipeline connections, and repairs were carried out at different locations in Bayelsa and Rivers States. This is in addition to the 17 vehicles and 15 wooden boats carrying stolen crude oil that were seized in communities across Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States with arrest of 16 suspects in connection with the incidents.”
The Northern Youths Progressive Network further acknowledged the vital roles and collaborations among strategic partners, including the Security Agencies, Tantita Security Services, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, and Maton Engineering Company, among others, which led to the recent breakthrough in the oil and gas sector of the country.
“We believe that this proactive measures by the NNPCL will prevent further sabotage of the nation’s economy and restore confidence in the company amidst mounting concerns over the delay in the commencement of operations at the Port Harcourt Refinery, among others, which has faced multiple postponements. “Therefore, we wish to urge the Federal Government and security agencies to identify and apprehend those responsible for the theft of Nigeria’s crude oil and take punitive measures against them to serve as a deterrent to others,”
the statement added.
Voice of Nigeria reports that crude oil theft remains a significant challenge in the upstream sector, hindering the nation’s ability to increase production.