*Drums of illegally refined diesel.
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — A group known as Domestic Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria, DROAN, has expressed concern over the devastating effect of illegal oil bunkering activities in the Niger Delta ecosystem.
To this end, the group says it is planning to embark on sensitisation exercise on the dangers of oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering of petroleum products in the country.
Chairman of the Association, Mr Godwin Sunday, disclosed that DROAN has acquired three speed boats to penetrate the creeks in the Niger Delta for the sensitisation exercise.
Sunday also appealed to the Federal Government to set up a presidential committee to look into the activities of artisanal oil refiners in the Niger Delta.
According to him, “Considering the devastating effect on our environment, which obviously is leading to the environmental pollution, degradation and even a negative effect on our ecosystem.
“We, as a people, have unanimously agreed that we cannot continue to steal what seemingly belongs to us.
“To deepen this commitment, we have acquired three speed boats with 75 horse power engine each to enable us penetrate the creeks to carry out sensitisation exercise tagged; Operation Stop Illegal Bunkering in Nigeria.”
The group also appealed to individuals and organisations setting up modular refineries in the country to partner with the association for easy and smooth integration of the artisanal refiners.
