Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Federal Government has said that it will not legalize artisanal refining of crude oil in the Niger Delta, describing it as criminal activities.
Recall that there have been several calls by stakeholders in the Niger Delta region on the government to legalize artisanal refineries in the region, just the same way the government legalized artisanal gold mining in the North, under the PAGMI scheme.
Speaking, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, said the federal government has set up a modular refinery program and encouraged Nigerians to rather invest in it.
Sylva spoke while inspecting the ongoing rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinning Company in Eleme, Rivers State recently, blamed hydrocarbon soot pollution in Port Harcourt and environs on the activities of artisanal refineries.
He maintained that the government would not rest on its oars in putting an end to activities of artisanal refineries.
“The programs is on and we expect Nigerians to take advantage of the modular refinery program.
“But you know when people begin to equate modular refinery with the criminality that is going on. I think they don’t go together.
“The criminality should be taken as it is, on its own. What is going on in Port Harcourt and environs that is causing soot, is a criminal activity and we cannot legalize that criminal activity.
“We must stop that activity by law enforcement and that has started.
“Of course the programme for establishing modular refineries has always been on. Any law abiding Nigerian who wants to invest in this area can always access funding and also the licenses from the federal government.”
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