Environmental Lawyers Flay Illegal Bunkering

Following the death of over 100 persons recently at an illegal refining site in Adaezi Community in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, environmental lawyers, under the aegis of the Association of Environmental Lawyers of Nigeria (AELN), have condemned in strong terms the illegal crude oil business going on in some parts of the country.
The lawyers, who made the condemnation in a statement signed by National President of AELN, Prof Samuel Dike and the General Secretary, Barrister Kennedy Worji, urged the appropriate authorities to take swift actions to stem the illegal crude oil business, which they said is contrary to all civilised norms and practices.
While describing the devastation caused by the explosion which occurred at the refining site as a holocaust and genocide, they noted that the sad episode happened after several calls by AELN to the federal, state and local government authorities to take decisive actions including the banning of illegal refining and the prosecution of persons involved.
According to the lawyers, the association had also suggested the recognition of this skill by developing and incorporating small scale modular refining industry as promised by the Federal Government.
“However, up till date, it appears that the Federal Government has either reneged on its promise or is unwilling to tackle the problem,” they said, stressing that this has consequently emboldened the perpetrators whereas the operators and joint ventures partners have failed to protect and secure their facilities.
The result of these failings, they said, is the monumental loss of precious human lives and devastation of the once pristine agricultural environment.
While commiserating with the families of the victims and the people of the affected community, the lawyers held the various arms of government culpable including the affected community leaders.
The lawyers, however, called on the people of the affected community as well as other communities particularly in Rivers State to continue to sensitise their people on the negative impacts of the illegal oil business.
They also called on the Federal Government to withdraw the licence of any oil operator that could not secure its facilities and urged the Federal Government to immediately implement the Modular Refining Programme within the Niger Delta region.
“ AELN considers this sad event as a brutal assault on humanity and a further violation of human and environmental rights. We call on all stakeholders and concerned Nigerians for fresh roundtable talks on how to brutally deal with and untangle all the emerging constitutional, environmental, economic and socio-political issues that are associated with this whole matter, “ they said.
It would be recalled that the Rivers State Government under the watch of Chief Nyesom Wike, recently declared a full scale war against illegal oil refining which is currently yielding fruitful results in the state.

By: Donatus Ebi