Be Eco-friendly In Disposing Recovered Stolen Crude Oil, Reps Tell Task Force

House of Representatives has called for the professional disposal of crude oil and associated materials recovered from oil thieves and operators of illegal refineries, by the Operation Delta Safe Joint Task Force.

It urged the federal government to halt environmental hostile practice for an eco-friendly and professional method of disposing crude oil and allied materials seized, in the course of security operations.

The House further asked the security agents to include, in the Joint Task Force, environmental experts to supervise the disposal of seized crude which could also be reabsorbed into the national oil stock, to minimise the incidents of crude oil spills and curb further pollution of the Niger Delta environment.

The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion moved by the member, representing Brass/Nembe federal constituency of Bayelsa state, Hon. Marie Enenimiete Ebikake at plenary on Thursday.

Moving the motion, Ebikake noted the alarming rise of crude oil theft and the operations of illegal refineries, predominantly in the Niger Delta region and the daily loss of billions of naira as a result of this obnoxious enterprise.

The lawmaker also noted the news of the active participation of the very security personnel tasked with eradicating this economic sabotage.

She expressed concern that; “the standard practice of reintroducing seized crude to the environment, and the unprofessional incineration of vessels and illegal refineries, and seized crude oil cause further damage to a highly devastated ecosystem, and has proved ineffective as deterrence to crude oil theft and the operation of illegal refineries.

“The combined effects of illegal refineries and oil theft, and the unprofessional disposal of crude oil and allied materials, by the Joint Task Force are directly contributing to the rising levels of toxicity of the Niger Delta environment which, in the view of environmental and health experts, is the primary cause of further depletion of the mangrove vegetation.”

Ebikake said the other effects include, poor crop harvests, destruction of aquatic and other marine lives, the rising cases of neo-natal mortality, liver and lungs poisoning, breathing difficulties, kidney damage, skin ulcers from acid rains, increased blood pressure and muscle weakness.

Adopting the motion, the House called for an amendment to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021 to ensure oil companies reserve a quota of employment opportunities for eligible indigenes of host communities to guarantee economic security will and make pipelines vandalism less attractive.