By Princely Onyenwe,Imo
Head Of Department, HOD Association of Nigeria Petroleum Marketers, Mr Henshaw Nwaozuzu Chigozie has called on Federal Government to legislate and legalize bunkering business across the oil producing states in NIGERIA.
This he said will create employment and improve the revenue base of the country through the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry in NIGERIA.
9News Nigeria Owerri gathered that sometime towards the end of 2021, Some communities in OHAJI EGBEMA local government area of Imo state experienced a rude shock from the hazards of illegal oil mining in the area where the proceeds of the illegal business caused disaffection and destruction of lives and properties worth millions of Naira in the area.
However it is highly regretted that the breaking of Nigerian Oil pipelines by NIGERIAN youths has continued to occur after series of calls and warnings by Government to stop the illegal business.
HOD HENSHAW however hinted that such mining from unapproved agents through breaking of Nigerian Oil pipelines is becoming a multi- million Naira business that if properly harnessed will surely improve local refining in Nigeria.
He further pleaded on the NIGERIAN government to find a lasting solution to settle this illegality through bringing together these illegal miners, employ them, give trainings and find a possible way of allocating crude oil to them.
“The guys are genius and to punish them as criminals is not the best for such brians but to co-opt them into the oil sector and constitute a law to establish modular refineries where they will work across the states of the Federation.
As an activist in the downstream sector, Henshaw questioned NIGERIA government on the reasons FG has not cautioned Shell-BP, Agip and other oil firms on basic demands for degrading the NIGERIAN environment on gas flaring. He flawed the non challant attitude of the management of oil companies for wasting NIGERIAN wealth and degrading her environment causing hazards without compensation to the oil Communities.
This discussion was on a call-in program with Oziza FM radio Owerri on Saturday 29-01-2022 where HOD HENSHAW Criticized the forceful stopping of bunkering in some states including Rivers State which he hinted that GOVERNOR Wike has just increased its lucrative tendencies than what it use to be. Prices of KPOFIRE are now very high because of government enforcement to stop the business.
It may interest our readers to know that such Products from illegal oil bunkering is called “Kpofire” as exposed by the activist who insists that FG should legalize the business of oil bunkering to establish Modular refineries as gathered by 9News Nigeria Owerri.
9News Nigeria (Owerri) For inquiries on this news contact 9News Nigeria Imo State @08036856526
