TheNewsGuru

Tag: Illegal Refineries

  • Navy destroys over 712 illegal refineries in N/Delta says FOC

    The outgoing Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Central Naval Command, Rear Adm. Abubakar Al-Hassan, said the Command had destroyed over 712 illegal refineries in the last seven months.

    Al-Hassan disclosed this during the sendforth parade organised in his honour on Monday in Warri at the premises of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS), Delta, Warri Naval Base.

    Al-Hassan who assumed duty on July 17, 2017 also said that over 900,000 metric tonnes of products suspected to be Automated Gasoline Oil (AGO), Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) and crude oil were destroyed within the period under review.

    He attributed the feat to the commitment and determination of his personnel to ensure that the maritime domain was sanitised from illegal activities in line with the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) directive of 2015.

    “Over 100 wooden boats and power driven boats engaged in illegalities in the creeks were either seized or destroyed.

    “Part of these successes was attained through patrols at sea and within the backwaters as well as the conduct of exercises and operations such as OCTOPUSGRIP.

    “The command also recorded over 25,000 hours of boat patrols within the creeks and waterways between July, 2017 and Jan. 18,’’ he said.

    Al-Hassan noted that the nation’s economic centre of gravity fell within the operational domains of the Nigerian Navy (NN) thus making the Navy a vital driver, guidance and enabler of the Nigeria economic aspiration.

    “In realisation of this, Navy has maintained constant presence and has deployed enough ships to ensure that criminal activities in the maritime domain are stopped,’’ he said.

    The FOC commended the Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa and Kogi state governments for their support in both facilities and logistic toward the Command’s operations and ultimate success.

    He also thanked the traditional rulers and youth leaders in the Niger Delta for supporting the Nigerian Navy by ensuring peace in their various communities.

    He urged the personnel to remain more committed toward ensuring safety and security of the maritime domain in the Command’s Areas of Responsibility (AoR).

    Al-Hassan also advised the personnel to sustain the good fellowship and give maximum support to the incoming FOC to enable him to succeed in his task.

    “My utmost gratitude goes to the CNS for giving me the opportunity to contribute my quota to nation building in this capacity,’’ he said.

    The incoming FOC, Central Naval Command, is Rear Adm. Saleh Usman.

     

  • Operation Crocodile Smile: Army arrests 30 suspects, destroys illegal refineries in Benin

    The 4 Brigade Headquarters of the Nigerian Army, Benin, has arrested 30 suspects for various criminal offences and destroyed more illegal refineries in continuation of its Operation Crocodile Smile II.

    The Brigade Spokesman, Capt. Mohammed Maidawa, said on Friday in Benin that 24 out of the 30 suspects were apprehended for being in possession of hard drugs.

    Maidawa said three were arrested for alleged kidnapping, while others were held for illegal oil bunkering and militia activities.

    According to him, the 24 suspects were arrested at a bar on Airport Road, Benin, and three at Ugbolukangin Community in Ovia South West Local Government Area in Edo.

    He said that others were arrested at Boboluku Community in Ethiope Local Government Area of Delta, adding that all the suspects were being questioned by the relevant security agencies.

    Maidawa said the Brigade adopted the use of swamp buggies to ensure complete destruction of illegal bunkering camps within its area of operations.

    He said the innovation yielded positive results because several metallic tanks, drums as well as the covering of several dug-out-pits used for illegal bunkering were destroyed during the operations.

    He also said that at Ebele Creek, two speedboats concealed in the swamp by militants were seized and that the boats were currently in the custody of the Brigade pending investigation.

    He added that on Oct. 2 the Brigade discovered and destroyed five dug-out-pits and five metallic storage tanks loaded with about 110,000 litres of products suspected to be petrol and about 20,000 litres of kerosene.

    According to him, the illegal refinery is located at Lapase in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.

    He said the troops also intercepted and destroyed a Cotonou boat loaded with 100 jerry cans containing kerosene, 60,000 litres of crude and 35,000 litres of Automated Gas Oil (AGO) in Aziza area of Delta.

     

    NAN

  • Why we don’t support illegal refineries – Dogara

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara, has explained that illegal refineries cannot be allowed to operate in Nigeria because their operators steal crude oil meant from the Nigerian State and degrade the environment with their activities.

    Dogara, who was speaking at the investigative hearing of the Adhoc Committee on the Joint Task Force and Nigeria Agip Company in the Niger Delta, also added that illegal refineries are spill-overs of the activities of militancy in the Niger Delta Area allegedly due to joblessness, poverty and hunger.

    The Speaker said, “Illegal oil refineries in Nigeria thrive on illegal oil bunkering, stolen crude oil, and vandalism of oil pipelines and other installations. Without a doubt, these illegal oil operations are reprehensible and should not be condoned for a number of reasons: Firstly, it is improper for citizens to destroy oil installations in their bid to steal crude oil as feedstock for illegal refineries. Secondly, it is most inappropriate for anybody, Nigerians or foreigners, to steal crude oil belonging to the Nigerian State with impunity. Thirdly, there are serious environmental issues involved, regardless of whether they dump the residue from the crude oil distillation process into the river or simply incinerate it.”

    Dogara expressed condolences to the families of the 14 people that lost their lives on the 9th of July, 2015 at the site of the repair works of the Tebidaba Clough Creekline in Azuzuama, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, saying that “as representatives of the people, our hearts go out to them.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Speaker charged the committee members and stakeholders to participate in the hearing fully with the aim of contributing to the quality of legislation that will be passes by the House.

    He also expressed confidence in the ability of members of the ad-hoc committee to rise to the occasion and deliver on this very important national assignment in the shortest possible time.