The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has appealed to the Chief of Defence Staff to act fast to stop illegal petrol lifting operations going on at the Bonny River Terminal.
The chief executive of the NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed in letter to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor urged the security agency to intervene in the illegal petroleum lifting operations taking place at Bonny River Terminal.
In the letter with reference number NMDPRA/OACE/EXC.14/2023/05 dated June 8, 2023,and titled ‘Economic Sabotage, Criminal Damage and Theft Through Illegal Petroleum Lifting Operations at Bonny River Terminal’ sighted by LEADERSHIP in Abuja yesterday, the NMDPRA Boss raised the alarm that a vessel identified as Barumk Gas is lifting Butane at Bonny River Terminal without the authorisation or participation of the Authority.
Ahmed stated in the letter that the operation in the Bonny Terminal is illegal and a violation of the law because NMDPRA is the agency of government statutorily responsible for regulating operations at the Terminal.
The NMDPRA boss explained further that this unlawful action is being facilitated with the active connivance of Exxon Mobil who, according him have illegally destroyed the locks on the sea-line valve whose keys are in the custody of the Authority.
Ahmed added that the actions of Exxon Mobil and Barumk Gas constitute economic sabotage, criminal damage and theft of Nigeria’s national resources and urged the Defence Chief to stop the vessels from leaving the shores of Nigeria.
The letter reads, “The urgent attention of the Chief of Defence Staff is drawn to the illegal petroleum lifting operations taking place at Bonny River Terminal.
“The vessel Barumk Gas is lifting Butane at Bonny River Terminal without the authorisation or participation of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority which is the agency of government statutorily responsible for regulating operations at the Terminal.
“This unlawful action is being facilitated with the active connivance of Exxon Mobil who have illegally destroyed the locks on the sea-line valve whose keys are in the custody of the Authority.
“The actions of Exxon Mobil and Barumk Gas constitute economic sabotage, criminal damage and theft of Nigeria’s national resources.
“You are by this letter kindly requested to urgently prevent the sailing out of Barumk Gas until investigations into the matter are concluded.”
However, when contacted, manager, Media and Communications, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited,
Oge Udeagha insisted that all its operations are in full compliance of the law
“We wish to state that all operations of the NNPC/MPN Joint Venture are carried out in full compliance with the law,” Udeagha said.
