How to salvage Niger Delta environment through legislation

IN spite of the presence of security agents, namely: the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army and the Marine Police, among others, the business of crude oil theft manifesting in the forms of illegal refineries and siphoning crude oil into vessels in the high seas for export, is still lucratively thriving in the Niger Delta region.

While there are unverified claims that personnel of some of these security agents clandestinely aid and abet criminals to make fortunes from this illicit business, unemployment has been advanced as a major reason for the perpetuation of the crime.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s economic team working on modular refineries as panacea to stemming the tide is yet to see the light of the day after the idea was mooted about two years ago, during his visit to Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta State.

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Stakeholders from the region jumped at the idea of modular refineries as it believed the destruction of ecosystem would be abated and youths taken off the streets, as well as criminality.

Being the region that lays the proverbial golden egg for the survival of the entire country in the meantime, efforts should be made to employ every possible means to make the region a working paradise of some sort rather than a haven of misfortunes and criminality.

The annual Operation Crocodile Smile by the Nigerian Army in the Niger Delta region to destroy illegal oil refineries and smoke out criminals lurking and perpetrating criminality in the maritime domain of region has achieved limited success over time.

It is on this basis the immediate past governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, lent his voice on how the region can be rejuvenated, virile and made workable to make life meaningful to the people.

Uduaghan, who’s the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Delta South Senatorial district ahead of the 2019 general election, has consistently proposed the idea of resolving all socio-economic and environmental challenges through appropriate legislations.

The Itsekiri-born observed that since illegal refineries are scattered all over the Niger Delta, modular refineries could just be the way out of the issue.

He said following the “technological changes (FUPRE model) in the processes, supply of legal crude to the operators will empower our young ones legally, and also save our environment.”

Uduaghan added that to halt the pollution of the Niger Delta environment, “legislation on compulsory technological changes in the pipelines carrying crude, condensate, refined products and gas, making them more difficult to be vandalised will be saving our environment.”

While lamenting the destruction orchestrated by illegal refineries on the environment, Uduaghan hinted on the processes involved in the crime.

According to him, “Cotonu boats (wooden boats) are the first leg in a “relay race” when crude is stolen.

“When caught, the boats are destroyed, and burnt in hundreds and the crude spill all over, especially into the waters of the Niger Delta.

“This destruction process increases the greenhouse gases in the air and also, the smoke carries sooth to several kilometres away.

“This combined with the smoke from illegal refineries, are the major causes of the “black deposits” on our bodies, cars, roofs, etc.

“The boats are destroyed because there are no laws on managing such stolen crude and NNPC will not take them.

“Legislation will stop this,” he said.

“Legislation will compel the Federal Government to partner with international agencies to have an assessment of the level of damage to the environment in the Niger Delta.

“Such assessment will also include an estimated cost of cleaning the environment.”