Business
Oil producing communities make case for illegal refineries
Instead of destroying local refineries tagged as illegal, Oil Producing Area Association of Nigeria (OPAAN) has appealed to the federal government to legalise such refineries, so they can contribute to making fuel products readily available in the country.
According to the group, operations of the local refineries can to boost local refining capacity and the economy of the nation.
OPAAN contended that it is sad that while Nigeria cannot meet up with the internal consumption of petroleum products, it engages in the destruction of local refineries at the creeks simply because there is no legal frame work for such production in the country.
Read also: Stakeholders make case for illegal refineries
In a statement titled, “The Need to Legalise Local refineries in Nigeria”, by the President of the association, Chief Obiuwevbi Ominimini, the group said if legal framework was put in place through which Nigerians could incorporate business outfits for the production of diesel and other petroleum products with mini refineries, it would create job opportunities for Nigerian teeming youths, increase the country gross domestic products, GDP, reduce criminality and crude oil theft in the country.
The statement argued that the destruction of the illegal refineries did not in any way assist in the growth of Nigerian economy, stressing that instead they should be legalised to make it more meaningful to the indigenes of oil and gas producing areas of Nigeria.
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