By Davies Iheamnachor
PORT HARCOURT: CHAIRMAN, Ogoni Council of
Paramount Rulers, Ogoni, Rivers State, High Chief
Barisi Kpaama, has raised the alarm over the
menace of oil thieves in his domain and other parts
Niger Delta region, alleging that some security
chiefs were aiding and abetting the criminals.
He spoke as the Zonal Director, National Oil Spill
Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, Port
Harcourt, Cyrus Nkangwung, blamed the rise in oil
bunkering in the oil-rich region on the unavailability
of petroleum products at the rural communities.
Security chiefs have compromised – Kpaama
Kpaama and NOSDRA at a roundtable by the
National Coalition on Gas Flaring and Oil Spills,
NAGGOND, to seek sustainable alternatives to oil
theft and artisanal refining further noted that
corruption among security agencies was also
energizing the menace in the Niger Delta region.
He said: “The heads of security agencies in the
communities involved in artisanal refining have
compromised and are abetting the culprits,
therefore, they should be to serve as a
deterrent to the locals.
“If the DPO and JTF Commander are in support of
the boys carrying out the theft, who are you to go
against them?” He asserted.
Stop destroying illegally refined products – NOSDRA
director
Nkangwung said: “Investigations shows that there
is no presence of government or access to the
products in the rural communities, they do not
have where to get kerosene or diesel from, whereas
the illegally refined products are accessible and
cheaper.”
“Security agencies should not destroy the illegally
refined products alongside the environment. It is a
good thing that the government now building tank
farms to store the recovered products rather than
burning them and further polluting the
environment,” he asserted.
It’s shameful Nigeria still import oil – Prof Naanee
Meanwhile, University of Port-Harcourt don, Prof.
Ben Naanee, said: “It is sad that after 50 years, we
(Nigerians) are still importing oil, have failed to
harness the large ECOWAS market.
“It will not be impossible to stop theft and illegal
refining unless government provides alternatives
and address the issues of accessibility of petroleum
products in the rural communities and also
reducing its prices making it affordable.”
