Review Approach On Illegal Refineries, BoPP Tells FG

Federal Government has
been advised to review its approach on the issue of illegal refineries in the oil-rich Niger Delta for economic development of the oil sector and economy of the nation.
The Chairman, Rivers State Bureau of Public Procurement, Prof Okey Onuchukwu made the call at the 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Rivers/Bayelsa States branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) held Thursday in Port Harcourt.
Onuchuwkwu said that the boys involved in illegal refinering of crude oil in the Creeks should not be totally thrown away.
While delivering a paper tilted, “Stagflation and Economic Re-alignment in Nigeria”, he said the high unemployment and inflation in Nigeria demands a shift from some policies of the government.
The head of Economics Department at the University of Port Harcourt said closing down the activities of those refining the crude in the creeks should not be approached with total rejection but rather government should find a strategy of co-ordinating them with the aim of upgrading their standard.
He explained that if they are trained such that the standard of their operation is upgraded, it would help boost employment and increase forex.
“We don’t need the big and gigantic refineries. Let us look at what the boys are doing, upgrade and to add value to it”, he said.
He remarked that huge importation of Petroleum Products and inability of public refineries to produce up to expected capacity was working against the economy and should be reviewed to boost local production.
In his own submission, Adviser to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on Investment, Mr Isaac Okemini, said the Federal Government should take steps towards ensuring that the International Oil Companies (IOCs) are encouraged to operate instead of scaring them off with our policies.
“Oil is the main stay of this country and will remain so for a long time. You must call back the IOCs; whatever made them to sell their investments in Nigeria must be reversed”, he said.
The Adviser regretted that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) that could guarantee meaningful business operations of the IOCs had been languishing in the National Assembly for years and called on both National Assembly and federal government to sort out whatever differences amongst them that led to such a situation as to pass the Bill.

Chris Oluoh