Grant Amnesty To Niger-Delta Oil Bunkerers, Nigerian Refineries Petroleum Marketers Tell FG

Association of Nigerian Refineries Petroleum Marketers (ANRPM) has stated the need for President Bola Tinubu administration to grant amnesty to illegal oil bunkerers in the Niger Delta region.

The Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, had in 2023 lamented that Nigeria loses over 300,000 barrels of crude oil per day due to theft, vandalism, and other criminal activities.

He said some of the severe consequences of this include revenue loss, environmental disaster, threats to regional peace and security, proliferation of arms, and a poor investment climate.

Abbas asserted that the nation is reported to have incurred losses of oil revenues estimated at N1.29 trillion annually due to industrial-scale theft, noting that by effectively addressing the challenge, Nigeria can enhance revenue, investment and overall socio-economic progress.

However, the national woman leader/ Delta South coordinator of ANRPM, Amb Dr. success Ebierebo motajo, while speaking during a stakeholders and coordinators of the association meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Thursday, stressed that the bunkerers may continue to participate in the illicit trade if government refused to bring them to a round table.

She explained that the activities of illegal oil bunkerers in the Niger Delta region is causing more damage to the environment, calling on government to legalize some of the activities and give them license to operate legally.

She said; “We gathered here today to brain storm on how we can take our people out of illegal bunkering in Niger Delta. The illegal bunkering is moving the country backward, because we are loosing a lot to bunkering activities in the region.

“We are not happy, our people are dying of hunger and disease epidemic due to the oil exploration and the illegal bunkering activities.

“The bunkerers may continue to participate in the illicit trade if government refused to bring them to a round table.

“Late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s administration gave amnesty to Niger Delta militants, which has resulted to the peace we are enjoying today in the region.

“So, we are calling on President Bola Tinubu to consider given amnesty to the illegal oil bunkerers in the region for better production and financial growth of the country.

“We are urging the government to encourage and complement them for coming up with the lucrative inventory skills. While we also called on the government to legalize some of the bunkerers and give them license to operate legally,” she said.

On his part, the Zonal Comptroller 1 Operations of the Niger-Delta States, Dr. Edison C. Nwadiaro explained that the mission of the Association is to eradicate all the irregularities in the Oil Sector by illegal bunkers.

He emphasized that the scope of its operations is delimited to engaging and synergizing with law enforcement agencies, ministries and private parastatals. “We are bringing amnesty to those illegal bunkers, bringing them together while federal government will come and know how to assist them”; Dr. Nwadiaro remarked.

The Comptroller 1 assured that ANRPM are on ground to clamp down on defaulters and perpetrators of all forms of petroleum products illegalities. “We are here to fight all menace in the oil sector”; Dr. Nwadiaro reaffirmed. On how to inaugurate States and staff members, the Comptroller said the Association is taking it gradually state by state seeking those fit and credible to join the Association across the 9 Niger-Delta States.

Meanwhile, the Association unveiled its Chairman and other executives in Bayelsa State, while the mandate of the Association which is Say No to all forms of petroleum products illegalities such as bunkering, dubious middlemen, artificial scarcity of petroleum products and adulteration of petroleum products, amongst others were stated.

The new Chairman, Engineer Kemefa frank ozeke said the association is ready to demonstrate its commitment to strengthening key governance institutions that support the country’s economy.

“Today marks another historic moment for our Nation, as we are ready to demonstrate our commitment to strengthening the key governance institutions that support our country’s economy.

“I have no doubt this association will do the nation proud and perform well.”

The event was roundly attended by executives and staff members of the Association from the different states of Niger-Delta Zone.