Nigerian Army Destroys Over 100 Illegal Refineries in Niger Delta

The Commander of the Joint Military Taskforce (JTF) in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region, Brigadier General Nanven Rimtip, Friday said that it had destroyed 111 illegal and locally built refineries in Bomadi and Burutu local government areas of Delta State in south-western Nigeria.

Rimtip told the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources and a sub-committee on Illegal Bunkering in Effurun near Warri in Delta State that the JTF would destroy more of the refineries when sighted and that the exercise was a continuous one.

He said that the refineries were almost in all villages in Bomadi and the Burutu local government areas and that the heavy presence of the military in Tuomo and Burutu was due to the concentration of illegal refineries in the area.

He said that the military presence was not only to stop production and subsequent marketing of illegal and sub-standard petroleum products in the region but to also stop illegal bunkering.

The Commander said that these illegal refineries had contributed to illegal bunkering in the region and that about N6 billion (about US$512 million) worth of crude oil stolen in the past three months had also been recovered.

He said the militants were able to attack the offshore Bonga oil field belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company two months ago because the JTF vessels were in Warri for minor repairs.

According to him, the militants went back to the oil field two days ago to attack it but that the soldiers were able to stop it due to an intelligence report.

The Chairman of the Committee on Petroleum Resources, Mr Tamuno Brisibe, advised the JTF commander to list the requirements that would enable the JTF to effectively protect the nation’s territorial waters.

He urged the JTF to close down all illegal refineries in the region, adding that these would help to reduce the incidence of illegal bunkering.

Brisibe said that Nigerian President Umar Yar’Adua had sought for the co-operation of the countries buying crude from unidentified sources.

He said that the National Assembly also needed to look at the issue, saying that “some of these things require a refinement of our laws”.

Brisibe promised that the House of Representatives would provide necessary legal backing to the executive to stop the sale of stolen crude in the international market and prosecute culprits.

Source African Press Agency

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