Against the backdrop of incineration of seized vessels carrying stolen crude oil in the Niger Delta region by the federal authorities, a coalition of Ijaw interest groups has written to President Bola Tinubu questioning that mode of disposal.
In a letter by the group addressed to Tinubu dated July 31st was issued by the President of Homeland Chapter Ijaw Professionals Association (IPA), Hon. Iniruo Wills, jointly signed by top comrades of the coalition, stated that the recent destruction of the MT TURA Vessel by explosives was a threat to the environment and survival of the Niger Delta people.
It further said relevant authorities should install an open-access portal for tracking vessels that are seized with stolen crude and products, up till the point of final disposal, the statement added.
Recommending alternative modes of disposal, the group said efforts should be made to evacuate all stolen crude from the arrested vessels to the nearest oil flow station in other to avoid oil spillage in the region.
The group’s letter titled: “INCINERATION OF VESSELS ARRESTED WITH STOLEN CRUDE IN THE NIGER DELTA,” read:
“We, the undersigned, present a coalition of Ijaw interest groups.
“We write to express our utmost dissatisfaction on the mode of disposal of vessels arrested with stolen crude in the Niger Delta.
“Destroying vessels laden with crude oil exacerbates the existential threat to the environment and survival of the people. In fact, the destruction of the MT TURA in the latest incident by bombing of the vessel was extremely horrifying and unacceptable.
“We recommend implementation of the following measures in the interest of the environment, transparency and the national economy:
• NNPCL and the Military Authorities should improve the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for disposal of such vessels in the future.
• All efforts should be made to evacuate the stolen crude to the nearest oil Flowstation, Oil Terminal or Refinery before proper disposal of such vessels.
• The relevant authorities should install an open-access portal for tracking vessels that are seized with stolen crude and products, up till the point of final disposal. This can be operationalized in collaboration with national and international monitors such as Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
• The Government should be transparent in naming and prosecuting all individuals and interests at the top of the syndicate, including owners of arrested vessels.
• Regulators of the petroleum industry, particularly the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), should urgently compel the operating companies to properly decommission and safely abandon all idle wellheads and pipelines in the Niger Delta.
• To dis-incentivize and convert the local peasant operatives, government and industry development partners (NCDMB, NMDPRA, NNPCL, NDDC, BOI, etc.) should design significant financial incentives and ease the process for building modular refineries in the operational areas.
“While we await Your Excellency’s response, we assure you of our highest regards.”
