24 August 2015, Warri – Oil Producing Area Association of Nigeria, OPAAN, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, to halt the destruction of “illegal” refineries in the creeks, but legalise their operations to boost local refining capacity and the economy.
OPAAN contended that it is sad that while Nigeria cannot meet up with the internal consumption of petroleum products, it engages in the destruction of local refineries at the creeks simply because there is no legal frame work for such production in the country.
In a statement titled, “The Need to Legalise Local refineries in Nigeria”, by the President of the association, Chief Obiuwevbi Ominimini, the group said if legal framework was put in place through which Nigerians could incorporate business outfits for the production of diesel and other petroleum products with mini refineries, it would create job opportunities for Nigerian teeming youths, increase the country gross domestic products, GDP, reduce criminality and crude oil theft in the country.
The statement argued that the destruction of the illegal refineries did not in any way assist in the growth of Nigerian economy, stressing that instead they should be legalised to make it more meaningful to the indigenes of oil and gas producing areas of Nigeria.
– Vanguard
