An oil and gas expert, Dr. Obele Joseph, is making a case for the establishment of modular refineries in the Niger Delta. He also calls for considerable attention to host communities. Dr. Obele said doing so would help in the fight against oil theft. He explained that oil theft activities and vandalism are the result of the exclusion of host communities, which is why he recommends the provision of the PIA that suggests 3% equity should be reserved for the host communities.
“We may want to ask, which of the communities in Niger Delta have received this 3%? I would say none. So I want to say that oil theft and illegal oil activities will remain until the host communities have a sense of belonging.”
The immediate past chairman of IPMAN in Rivers State, Joseph Obele, also asked the federal government to privatize the Port Harcourt refineries to create competition with the Dangote refinery.
On his part, environmental activist Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface said the establishment of modular refineries will reduce artisanal refineries, popularly known as Kpo-fire. He said he wants to see the government issue licenses to youths involved in artisanal refineries in the Niger Delta so that we don’t begin to experience bombings like what we had in 2024, recalling that, for the first time in the history of the country, bombs were used to chase oil thieves in the Niger Delta. He therefore suggests that alternative livelihood opportunities should be provided for them by granting modular refining licenses, and by so doing, these youths will stay away from such acts.
“I have also advocated that these youths, who are being chased here and there, can also be provided with the Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative (PACORDI), which will modernize, standardize, legalize, and integrate modular refineries into the economy,” he concludes.
