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Reps Urge FG to Design Model For Local Refiners In Petroleum Production

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2 years ago

October 31, 2024

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By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to develope a blueprint to allow indigenous refiners in the nation’s petroleum production value chain.

This resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion on the “Need to reform and regulate Nigerian petroleum production activities to integrate artisanal refiners in the production value chain”, by the Deputy Minority Whip, Rep. George Ozodinobi, on Thursday at plenary.

Debating the motion, Rep. Ozodinobi highlighted that constitutionally, it is important to harness the nation’s resources to increase prosperity.

According to him, lives and revenues have been lost due to government’s inability to recognise, regulate, and control artisanal refining of petroleum products, a practice which he said has been prevalent in the Niger Delta region for decades.

He further noted that in 2016, the Federal Government proposed the integration of artisanal refiners into mainstream operations in the oil and gas sector to promote the inclusion of more local content in the industry and advance the use of home-grown technology in the refining of petroleum products in the region.

Reo. Ozodinobi stated that after seven decades of massive devastation and environmental degradation of the Niger Delta with its ecosystem, policymakers are still oblivious to the crucial need to encourage artisanal refining and lay a foundation for the local technology that will salvage Nigeria from its energy poverty.

He lamented the stigmatization of indigenous artisanal refiners as ‘oil thieves’ stressing that

“The deployment of the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies to destroy artisanal refineries in an unprofessional manner further degrade the environment which provides the energy needs of communities in the Niger Delta.”

“This neglect of local refiners according has left Nigeria with four moribund refineries for decades, a globally rated exporter of crude oil and chronic importer of finished petroleum products with a litany of woes as confirmed by the ongoing fuel crisis and validated by the alleged conspiracy against the Dangote Refinery”, he said.

He further urged Nigeria to be committed to the promotion of indigenous technology in line with the examples laid by advanced nations of the world including Japan, the United States of America, and China, among others.

The Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu who presided over the plenary, urged the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission to study and articulate a regulatory legal framework to integrate artisanal refiners into the formal crude oil production value chain.

The House, unanimously adopted the motion when put to a voice vote and mandated its Committees on Petroleum Resources-Downstream, Upstream, and Midstream as well as Local Content to ensure compliance and report within four weeks for further legislative action.

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Photo: IGP Disu decorating Dr Azuka Edozie with his new rank of AIG

Published

2 minutes ago

July 23, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu(first right) decorating Dr. Hycinth Azuka Edozie with his new rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police. Mr. Chidi Dozie is helping the IGP in the task.

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Fire Engulfs Section Of Justrite Superstore Building In Lagos

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54 minutes ago

July 23, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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Early morning fire has engulfed a part of the Justrite Superstore in the Akowonjo area of Lagos State.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, however, said the incident, which happened at a store around Jimoh Bus Stop, Egbeda-Akowonjo, Lagos, was extinguished by firefighters.

“The incident involves the second floor of the commercial building, housing the electronics section of the store,” the Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, said in a statement on Thursday.

“Upon arrival, firefighters swiftly deployed firefighting equipment and commenced coordinated operations to contain the fire, prevent its spread to adjoining sections of the building, and safeguard lives, property and the environment.

“The Fire has been put out, and recovery of the remains is ongoing to bring the mop-up exercise to a wrap. The cause of the fire is suggestive of an alternative power source solar inverter system, while no casualty has been recorded.”

Footage of the inferno, shared on social media and by the agency, showed smoke billowing from the rooftop.
See more photos from the fire outbreak below:

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Oyo kidnappings: Court sentences three suspects to life imprisonment

Published

58 minutes ago

July 23, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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The Federal High Court, Abuja, has sentenced three suspects in the abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State to life imprisonment.

According to the court, the sentencing of Abdulrazak Umar, alias Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, alias Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, alias Abu Itisar, will start from the date of their arrest.

Before the verdict by Justice Salim Ibrahim, counsel for the defendants pleaded with the court to sentence them on liberal terms. He added that they were first-time offenders and had pleaded guilty.

Ibrahim pointed out that this showed that they were remorseful of their actions, and all the counts they were charged with are not related to the kidnapping.

He added that the convicts were married men who have children and have aged parents who are dependent on them. He pleaded with the court to give them a second chance at life and sentence them on liberal terms.

Counsel for the prosecution, however, pointed out that the convicts were aware of the people on the battlefield, and as true Nigerians, they should have reported it to the authorities.

After the charges were read to them, they pleaded guilty to membership of a proscribed terrorist group.

At their arraignment on alleged terrorism at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the three defendants also pleaded guilty to concealing information on the planning and execution of the abduction.

However, only the first accused person, Abdulrazak Umar, alias Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid, pleaded guilty to counts 7, 8, 9 and 10, which bordered on training and passing instructions and inciting terror group members on a particular religious ideology.

The three accused persons were on trial by DSS on a 10-count charge bordering on kidnapping, concealment of information, and terrorism-related offences.

According to the charges, the defendants, all from Niger State, are accused of knowingly withholding information about individuals linked to terrorist activities, participating in kidnapping, and using a messaging platform to facilitate terrorist training.