– The NSCDC has destroyed over 400 illegal refineries in Bayelsa state
– Desmond Agu, the NSCDC commandant in Bayelsa state said they were destroyed between January and March
– He added that they had intensified patrols in the coastal settlements
More than 400 illegal refineries have been destroyed by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the past three months.
This comes amidst fuel scarcity and the inability of the country to refine enough crude for local consumption.
Illegal refineries
Desmond Agu, the NSCDC commandant in Bayelsa state said it destroyed more than 400 illegal mini refineries called modular refineries, operated by oil thieves in state, NAN reports.
According to him, theyThe were destroyed between January and March.
He said: “We are on ground to ensure safety and protection of vital oil infrastructure and property within the command. The command is determined to deal with the oil thieves and end their illegal businesses.”
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Agu noted that they had intensified patrols in the coastal settlements and waterways in the state which led to the arrest of ex-militant leader and his gang.
On the recent vandalism at Agip’s oil fields in Southern Ijaw local government area of the state, Agu said they have made some arrests and the case has also been handed over to the Bayelsa state police command because it involves which is outside their jurisdiction.
“The corps recovered the bodies of the three oil workers that died in the explosion in one of the fields on March 26. We have handed over the bodies to Agip,” he added.
In March, some Nigerians, including the Ijaw Youths Council, had asked the federal government to legalise and regulate the modular refineries.
“Licensing modular refineries will reduce the pressure on the naira as the foreign exchange spent on importing the products will be conserved,” the chairman of the Ijaw Council, Udengs Eradiri had said.
The post As fuel scarcity persist, read what Nigeria did with 400 illegal refineries appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.
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