The burning and wasting of stolen crude oil has been said to be a disfavor to the country’s economy.
Such crude could be used to generate funds that would build infrastructures and thereby better the lives of the people.
The Executive Director, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Chima Williams, stated this while commenting on the conduct of Nation’s security operatives in their efforts to stall oil theft ravaging the Niger Delta region in recent times.
In a Press Release signed by the Communications Officer, ERA/FoEN, Elvira Jordan, Williams noted that the country was in debt insisting that the destroyed resources could have been used to enhance the economy.
Williams said, “destroying badges of crude that runs into millions is equivalent to denying the nation and its people of the revenue that can be derived from such large amount of crude.
“This is a country in dire need of resources to rebuild the economy, build infrastructures and better the lives of the people.
“The country is in heavy debt, yet we are destroying sources of enhancing our economy. The burnt vessels can be transformed into other uses like enhancing the work of seafearers in the country”.
The ERA/FoEN boss described the destruction of vessels laden with stolen crude oil as a worrisome and environmentally unfriendly way of curbing oil theft.
He explained that the burning of crude oil laden vessels disposes a high level of chemical content into the water bodies that destroys the eco lives and aquatic organisms that humans need to survive.
“Destroying such vessels with their crude contents produces high level chemical debris that follows tidal movement to other parts of the country. This kind of devastation destroys the aquatic organisms needed to satisfy man’s nutritional and survival needs.
“What is discharged includes chemical contents from the crude and the vessels that are harmful to the human health. The health implications of such activities may not have immediate effects but will be transferred to the people who inhabit these areas, as the primary occupation of the Riverine people are fishing and farming, which is dependent on the surrounding waters”, he stated.
He further stated that the destruction of crude oil laden vessels would deprive the people of their sources of livelihood with the chemical waste from the burnt vessels and crude oil coming in contact with the environment, killing aquatic life and poisoning the surrounding soil.
Williams, who is also a legal practitioner, said the  destruction of vessels laden with stolen crude has legal implications which he described as the destruction of evidence that could lead to proper prosecution of the case.

By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu