Local or Illegal Refinery?

The issue of local refineries otherwise called “illegal” Refineries by government which lacks the capacity to meet local needs of petroleum products by citizens is a crucial issue that needs to be addressed if Nigeria is to attain independence from foreign gladiators who prey on developing countries under one guise or another.

Notwithstanding efforts and commitment by the federal government to clear up the Niger Delta region and restore aquatic habitats which have been destroyed by oil exploration activities and the attendant adverse environmental impacts associated with the burning of illegal crude oil by the military in the Niger Delta, Commander of Sector 2 of Operation Delta Safe, OPDS, in charge of Bayelsa State, Col. A. B. Mohammed, has said the action will continue as the military lacks the logistics of considering alternative measures of disposing of them.

Mohammed, who stated that though the military hierarchy was concerned about the environmental situation in the Niger Delta, disclosed that the military was overwhelmed by the frequent sabotage of oil installations and the daily proliferation of illegal refineries, hence the decision to burn them off. The OPDS commander was reacting to issues of environmental degradation occasioned by the burning of crude oil in the Niger Delta, as raised by the leadership of the Bayelsa State branch of the Civil Liberties Organization, CLO, during a courtesy visit to the OPDS Sector Command in Yenagoa.

According to the Commander, “We do not have the resources to bring the illegal crude to Yenagoa to release them to Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, or the police, and again we are afraid of compromise which kills the morale of the military and it is one of the reasons we burn out the illegal crude.” He said.
The issue of local refineries otherwise called “illegal” Refineries by government which lacks the capacity to meet local needs of petroleum products by citizens is a crucial issue that needs to be addressed if Nigeria is to attain independence from foreign gladiators who prey on developing countries under one guise or another.