Amidst challenges of inadequate local refining capacity and meeting demand for refined petroleum products, the Federal Government seems to be thinking of encouraging artisanal refineries which have bridged the product supply gap for decades.

Although outlawed, more than 60 percent of diesel and kerosene used in the region are sourced from local bush refineries produced from stolen crude through fractional distillation.

Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (Rtd), Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta has said the Federal Government plans to liberalise modular refineries to develop the oil rich Niger Delta region.

Boro, who is also and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, assured the people of the region that the proposed modular refineries in oil producing communities will engender a new era in the Niger Delta region.

Gen. Boroh on Saturday in Yenagoa, restated the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration towards the people of the Niger Delta region.

He maintained that the government’s intention of making oil bearing the hub for refining and related activities will not only create decent jobs and income for the people, but put them in a better position to drive the local economy.

He applauded the Federal Government’s new vision for the region while appealing to the youths to be calm, focused and more articulate in their quest for better living conditions and take advantage of the good gestures of the present administration.

The Amnesty Cordinator explained that the Federall Government was seeking better ways for Niger Delta people to participate in the development process of the region through meaningful engagements.

According to the Amnesty boss, the government’s new partnership arrangement will bring about an unprecedented infrastructural development in the region.

Boro explained that government was working with the oil producing states, local governments, oil companies and the private sector, including civil society organisations to achieve sustainable development in Niger Delta.

Boroh commended the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, for taking the pains to identify with the people through his tour of the region.

According to Boroh, the planned oil-communities-intervention-meeting by the Federal Government to chart short, medium and long term development blueprint was a strategy to enhance the socio-economic activities in the region.

He expressed the hope that with the proposed coming on stream of modular refineries in oil bearing communities, the ex-agitators and other youths in the region will be meaningfully engaged in decent jobs.

He further said that, those with entrepreneurial skills in oil and gas can participate in the petrochemical industries in their communities which will soon become the new hub for refining activities.

Meanwhile, the leadership of Phase II ex-agitators in the Niger Delta region in a reaction to the development applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for demonstrating his sincere wish for the people of the region.

The ex-agitators said that the option of allowing modular refineries to be located in oil bearing communities in the Niger Delta region speaks volume of the sincere intentions of the present administration towards the Niger Delta youths.

Chairman of phase II ex-agitators , Hon Salvation Rifus, has said that the tour of the oil communities by the Acting President had shown that the feral government was committed to development .

He noted that the decision to allow the oil bearing communities to legally operate modular refineries was the best thing that has happened to the people, describing it as a welcome development.

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