The upsurge in illegal bunkering and illegal crude oil refining camps popularly known as Kpofire in the Niger Delta has been attributed to the failure of the Federal Government to keep to its promise of making oil producing communities in the region hubs for petro-chemical industries. Renowned environmentalist, Mr. Alagoa Morris warned that the new trend if not checked could spell doom for the region in no distant time. Lamenting the turn of event in the region, he recalled the words of Vice President Yemi Osibanjo during his interactive meeting with stakeholders when he visited the state in 2017 saying, “We must make our oil producing communities hubs for petro-chemical industries, small and large. We must make these communities hubs for refining and related activities,” adding, “the Ministry of Petroleum in collaboration with the oil companies is working on several initiatives for host communities including working with illegal refiners in oil bearing communities to participate in modular refineries that will be established.”
Morris, who is who is head, Environment Rights Action/Friend of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), regretted that five years after nothing tangible had been done by the Federal Government to redeem it’s pledge. He said: “the level of despoliation in our community is alarming. Only this morning I got a call from a disturbed native in the swamp area of Bayelsa that blanket of soot has taken over the environment. “The pollution in the air is now routine and even rain water cannot be used anymore. Sometimes people who want to go to farm stayed back thinking rain is about to fall Sadly, because Nigerians, especially Niger Deltans have identified bunkering and local refinery activities as economic means to an end and are massively getting involved despite the militarisation of the region; the state and Federal Governments should share the blame for not being able to holistically address the frightening situation. Even the security agencies are aware and acknowledged the fact that as far as oil theft or bunkering is concerned; the bigger thieves operates officially at the export terminals.
These big thieves, which includes the oil companies, security agencies and industry regulatory agency personnel, undervalued quantities of crude oil exported at the expense of the nation… shortchanging Nigeria. “Meanwhile, some individuals and groups (including myself) have suggested again and again that the federal and state governments should collaboratively come up with policies and standards which would enable these artisanal refiners step up their operations in safer ways; supported financially by the governments. It is most unfortunate that the Federal Government made promises that raised hopes and dashed the hopes. And now, those going into bunkering and local refinery are more determined and greater in number; including security operatives as part of the business.” Morris added: “Some of the multiplier effects or benefits associated with the bush refineries includes: reducing unemployment, reduction in violent crimes such as sea piracy, availability of the product, products becoming cheaper, boosting the local economy and sense of belonging in the oil industry. Our fears have manifested… increased violence, including sea piracy and kidnapping following the clamp down on refining camps. However, with the refiners returning with full force, it is with the support of some security operatives and they are so determined that not only are community folks going to suffer from the negative environmental impacts and other stakeholders may have their lives on the line; for failing to cooperate with them.
“As far as the health and livelihood implications are concerned, if nothing is done in time; the prognosis is very gloomy. Vegetables and other farm produce, even our bodies of water would suffer greater hydrocarbon pollution. At the end, whether you are in Yenagoa or not, provided you get these farm produce from the impacted environment, you are all consuming polluted food… same as the air we breathe. Again, if the Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) is against Gas flaring because of the negative impacts; there is no way I can turn a blind eye and pretend that all is well with the current state of bush refineries activities.”
