EOG Boss Appeals to FG to Legalize Artisanal Refineries * Says the IOCs should Cooperate For Mutual Understanding With the Association
4 min read
by Levi Bartholomew
A pressure group in Rivers State, Ekpeye Oil and Gas Pipelines Host Families Association (EOG), has appealed to the Federal Government to legalize artisanal refineries in order to make the environment more habitable in the Niger Delta.
The EOG, through its Chairman, Comrade Chidi Dogini, made the call at a press briefing in Ahoada Town, Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state.
Reacting to the current onslaught against illegal refineries, otherwise, known as ‘kpo-fire’ by the Rivers State Government and Security Agencies in the state, Dogini noted that despite the negative environmental effect of the illegal refineries and death occasioned by the Kpo Fire activities, it has helped to reduce insecurity in the Niger Delta Region and also make products available.
He said instead of shutting down the Illegal Artisanal Refineries, the government should come up with modalities to legalize the operations since the conventional outlets have failed to provide products for domestic use which has affected the economy adversely.
Dogini said; “The Federal Government should come up with measures to legalize artisanal refineries. This is because the recognized refineries have failed to produce products for domestic use and the legalization of Artisanal Refineries will make products available and boost our local economy.
“I don’t fully support the operations of these people, but they have shown that Nigeria can be self- sufficient in refined products if government is determined to provide jobs and boost local economy.
“Legalizing kpo-fire refineries will make the products available and also affordable. It will also channel the energies of the youths to gainful ventures rather than engaging in criminality.”
The group also threatened not to allow the commencement of the Ubie Deep Wells project that will feed the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Train 7 project, except its employment quota is explicitly defined.
EOG Boss stated that the oppression and enslavement of the people that had characterized operations of the oil companies in the area would no longer be condoned, adding that it would ensure that the people benefit from their God-given resources.
Dogini frowned at the practice of the International Oil Companies (IOCs) recognizing only where the refining facilities are situated at the expense of the degraded land where oil and gas is extracted and the people’s land left hollow and empty.
According to him, the Local Content law stipulates that a number of skilled and unskilled workers should be given adequate attention and enjoined the companies to award local contracts to indigenous Contractors.
He called on the managements of Total Energies EP and NLNG to take proactive actions to avoid disruption of its operations, stating that EOG stands to harmonize any grey area arising from either deliberate negligence by the International Oil Companies or undue demands by the people.
In his words; “NLNG can not start Train 7 project without involving Ekpeye ethnic nation in meaningful discussions.This is because the Ekpeye plays a major role in providing and transporting the gas that will feed Train 7.
“Ekpeye people will not allow any company to come and do business in its land without due consultation. Local content law must be fully applied. A man who owns property must benefit from his property.
“Go to Bonny Island which is a transitory point and see what is happening, but here in Ekpeye land, it has been pains, tears and suffering.
“Sectional meetings will not save the IOCs this time around. Ekpeye Sons and Daughters have braced up to fight for their rights. The mistakes of Ogbele, Niger Delta Petroleum Resources (NDPR), Akala Olu Community, Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Idu-Ekpeye Community, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Ubeta Community, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) can not repeat itself for the second time. The narrative must change”.
On the over three years oil spill allegedly caused by facility failure at Idu-Ekpeye and Akala Olu Communities, the EOG National Chairman decried the lack of concerted efforts by operators such as SPDC and NAOC to mop up and remediate the affected land mass, warning them against the habit of sponsoring miscreants to put up fire on the affected as such act is barbaric and nefarious.
The environmentalist alleged that the volume of oil spilled into the environment was more than that recorded in Ogoni land, adding that the incident had caused untold hardship and suffering to his people.
He stressed that the effect of the pollution may cause an outbreak of cancer related sicknesses, if nothing is done to remediate the environment.
