THE federal government effort to liberalize modular refineries have been commended by the Bayelsa State Government, even as government pledge to support the gesture geared to curb social vices and drive the economic development of the Niger Delta region.
Acting President Yemi Osinbbajo had during his ongoing tour of oil communities announced plans to establish modular refineries within oil bearing communities in the region. The Government spoke through the Special Adviser on Oil and Gas, Mr Felix Ayah, who restated that the historic approval of licenses would correct age-long neglects, exploitation and deprivation of the Ijaw people in the region.
He said that the decision of the Federal Government to allow indigenes of the Niger Delta region to open and operate modular refineries would boost the economic profile of the people. Ayah explained that the decision, when implemented would ameliorate the plights and sufferings of the people, who have suffered the adverse impacts of oil exploration without economic benefits in the past.
The Special Adviser urged the Niger Delta people irrespective of their political affiliation to maintain peace work together and play by the rules to benefit from the laudable government programmes. He noted that after about 60 years of the discovery of crude oil, the South-South region had contributed immensely to the growth and development of the country. He observed that the renewed interest of the Federal Government to harnessing the resources found in the Niger Delta for the economic benefit of the people was a clear departure from the past.
The special adviser expressed optimism that the planned modular refineries would empower more Niger Delta people and reduce the spate of conflicts with oil firms and increase oil production. According to him, the modular refineries will also curb the menace of pipeline vandalism and other social crimes and ills currently ravaging in the region.
To this end, Ayah averred said that the planned direct sale of the crude to modular refineries would reduce the incessant breaking of the pipes in the region.
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