By Anthony Areh
The Domestic Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria (DROAN) has supported the federal government’s removal of oil subsidy.
The National Chairman of the association, Mr Godwin Sunday, said in Uyo said that the association was in support of government’s courageous stand in bringing the subsidy regime to an end.
He urged stakeholders in the oil industry and indeed all Nigerians to support the policy and the establishment of modular refineries in the country.
He said that the establishment of modular refineries across the Niger Delta region would enhance youth employment and bring an end to youth restiveness, illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism.
“The oil sector, as we all know, has been the major stay of the economy and contributes more than 80 per cent to the growth of our nation.
“Therefore, as responsible citizens of this country, we have seen the need to join hands with the government to protect our major source of sustenance, the crude oil.
“We applaud the government, and we are also appealing to Nigerians to support the government in this direction.
“We trust that better days are here because the resources that were used for oil subsidy will now be channelled into other developmental projects like education, health and infrastructure development,” Sunday said.
The national chairman said that the association was deeply concerned over the devastating effect of illegal oil bunkering on the ecosystem.
He said that the association plans to embark on sensitisation exercise against illegal oil bunkering in the country, adding that the association had acquired three speed boats to penetrate the Creeks for the exercise.
He said: “Considering the devastating effect on our environment, which obviously is leading to the environmental pollution, degradation and even a negative effect on our ecosystem.
“We, as a people, have unanimously agreed that we cannot continue to steal what seemingly belongs to us.
“To deepen this commitment, we have acquired three speed boats with 75 horse power engine each to enable us penetrate the creeks to carry out sensitisation exercise tagged; ‘Operation Stop Illegal Bunkering in Nigeria.'”
