The Nigerian Army has asked the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, for intervention to end illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta region. The General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Port Harcourt, Maj. Gen. O.O Oluyede, made the request yesterday when he received the Interim Administrator of PAP, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd) in his office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Oluyede identified some of the persons involved in the act as ex-agitators, who were ignorant of the harm they were doing to the region’s environment, adding that army was ready to partner PAP and other relevant bodies and agencies of government to end the environmental menace. He lauded Dikio for making PAP a successful platform to sustain the peace in the region. General Oluyede said “We commend you on the remarkable success you have recorded since your appointment and urge you to continue. We also want you to intervene in the issue of illegal oil bunkering”.
Meanwhile, Dikio promised to intensify awareness on illegal oil bunkering, describing it as a detrimental contributor to the health of the people. He said “We are creating more awareness on the issue. Recently, some of our delegates, ex-agitators held a sensitisation workshop here in Port Harcourt as part of our efforts to end illegal oil bunkering. Let me state that anyone involved in “kpofire” is like a murderer. They have made the atmosphere in and around Port Harcourt a health hazard. That is how bad it is”. Dikio urged the persons involved in illegal bunkering to redirect their energy into palm oil business. He said “Rather than engage in kpofire business which endanger the health of the people in the region and in addition destroy our environment and eco system it is better to go into palm oil production. That is a very lucrative business. A ton of palm oil currently above $5,000 which is a lot more than a ton of crude oil can fetch.”
