Why Illegal Bunkering Thrives in the Niger Delta - THISDAYLIVE via thisdaylive
A recent inspection at the Brass River terminal of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company by the JTF explains why the illicit activities of illegal bunkerers in the Niger Delta continues unabated, Demola Ojo reports
The source alleged that the Brass terminal had become a dumping ground, a market for practically anybody with these “off-spec” products; that is, products that don’t meet the required specifications. He continued that this is operation has been going on for months and possibly, years.Brass is an island in Bayelsa State that began as a fishing village. At a time, the town was the main port of the Nembe Kingdom, prompting a historian to call it the “the Venice of the Niger Delta”.
NAOC operates in the land and swamp areas of the Niger Delta, and owns 20 per cent of a joint venture arrangement with NNPC and Oando , with concessions lying within Baylesa, Delta, Imo and Rivers States. The JTF team duly detained the vessels found at the terminal and went aboard to collect samples of the products for analysis.Cooked AGO can be visually identified. It is a darker colour than regular diesel because it isn’t well refined. However, the samples are usually subjected to analysis to dispel any doubts.
The economic ramifications of the illegal bunkering going on the Niger Delta go beyond profits ending up in the wrong hands. The source of cooked AGO is crude stolen from vandalised pipelines. Invariably, any IOC running its operations on cooked AGO is indirectly sabotaging its own business, as well as denying the country billions of naira in revenue.
Rear Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade took over from Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman as JTF Commander of Operation Delta Safe on April 1. Speaking during the handover ceremony at the headquarters in Yenagoa, he promised criminal elements in the region a tough time. “Since you have been speaking with the former JTF Commander, I think you should speak with the person that took over from him, because that is an operation that they are doing. I’m not even aware of it,” Rear Admiral Garba said.
With the former JTF Commander still difficult to reach, this reporter decided to hear NAOC’s side of the story. First was the General Manager District , Mr Tianni Alessandro, who neither picked his calls nor replied text messages in a period spanning more than a week.
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Osinbajo: FG Restates Commitment to Niger Delta Devt - THISDAYLIVEHamid Ayodeji Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo has revealed the commitment of the federal government to build a Niger Delta that is not defined by oil and gas, but other human capital resources. Speaking at the maiden matriculation ceremony of the Nigeria Maritime University, Delta State recently, Osibanjo noted that the drive to achieve economic …
Read more »
Niger Delta group, stakeholders root for Dogara's return as Speaker – Daily TrustAs battle for the leadership of the 9th National Assembly (NASS) gets intense, some Niger Delta youth leaders and stakeholders have called for the return of the incumbent, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Read more »
Easter: Church opens free hospital to tackle maternal, child mortality in Niger Delta - Vanguard NewsOMEGA Power Ministries, OPM, known for Church charity has, in the spirit of Easter, opened a free hospital to tackle maternal and child mortality
Read more »
Easter: Church opens hospital, offers free services to tackle maternal mortality in Niger Delta - Vanguard NewsOMEGA Power Ministries, OPM, known for Church charity has, in the spirit of Easter, opened a hospital that would offer free services to tackle maternal and child mortality cases in the Niger Delta.
Read more »
The Development of Niger Delta Needs Political Will to Succeed — Dennis Otuaro - Vanguard NewsWhen you go to the Niger Delta states, apart from the civil service, there is nothing generating employment; even the oil companies are not in the Niger Delta. You only see them in Abuja and Lagos
Read more »
Why Okpe should produce the next Governor of Delta State come 2023 - Vanguard NewsFew people know now that when the legendary Urhobo patriot, unifier and mobiliser, the incomparable Mukoro Mowoe wanted to found the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, he decided to hold the meetings for that purpose in Orerokpe, ancient capital of Okpe.
Read more »
N’Delta women regroup again, speak on their agitations - Vanguard NewsWOMEN drawn from Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross- River States in Niger Delta took a striking step at the 12th Niger Delta Dialogue held in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State, last week.
Read more »
The Concept of Revenue Allocation is Criminal - THISDAYLIVEPOLITY Dennis Brutus Otuaro The Ibe-Uyadonwei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief Dennis Brutus Otuaro is one person who is very passionate about the Niger Delta struggles and development. Chief Otuaro who is in his 40’s was a member of the Presidential Committee on Environment for the Restoration of the environment of the Niger Delta during the …
Read more »
IFAD insures 26,400 farmers in Niger - The Nation NewspaperThe International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Program Director in Niger state, Dr. Mathew Ahmed has disclosed that the Agency has insured
Read more »
NIMASA donates relief material to flood victims in Niger state - Vanguard NewsThe Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in continuation of its nationwide donation of relief items to victims affected by flood in some 20 states of the country has made a presentation to the people so affected in Niger State.
Read more »
Easter: Police to deploy 1,350 personnel in NigerThe Force says it will deploy its personnel to churches and recreational centres.
Read more »