Jonathan Decries Degradation of Niger Delta Environment by Oil Bunkerers
Francis Sadhere
President Goodluck Jonathan has decried the degradation of the environment of the Niger Delta region by oil bunkerers, saying that the Federal Government will stop at nothing in the fight against oil theft.
President Goodluck Jonathan flanked by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan
of Delta State (L), Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra (R) and others.
The President who spoke, weekend at Oporoza in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State appealed to those involved in the act to stop or they will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
He condemned those who are destroying the environment through crude methods of refining oil in the Niger Delta region, adding that their activities were putting the lives of generations yet unborn in jeopardy.
According to the President; “There are big people involved in bunkering. From the days I was the Deputy Governor in Bayelsa till today, we have been totally committed to reviewing the issue of bunkering but it is difficult. But now we are going to use different methods to get them. But I will plead with Nigerians who are involved in this bunkering to leave that business. You must leave bunkering.”
President Jonathan said; “For our people who are being used by these big International and National boys to destroying our environment, they have to stop because if you travel to the Niger Delta areas, you will see the level of destruction being done by this our crude method of refining oil. We are destroying our environment that we cannot even repair in the next twenty years. That means because of the little money you are making right now, you are increasing poverty for our children, our grand children, our great grand children and our children unborn because of the little money you will get.”
He said that “no society will develop if you do not plan for our children and our grand children, noting that what they were doing was a disservice to the future generation.”
“You are telling our children that they should not become human beings. The best way of making money anywhere in the world is to harness the resources of the environment. But if you cannot save your environment that means you cannot make money from it,” President Jonathan added.
“So we must collectively say no to bunkering, say no to crude oil refining that is taking place in our land where you take the crude oil which is about 20 percent and throw away the 80 percent into our environment. We must say no to this in spite of the little stipend you are getting from it. We are going to do all we can to stop it. Luckily with the dockyard, shipyard and the maritime university we are establishing will reduce this bunkering,” he noted
“ I want to appeal to our boys to key into the programmes of NIMASA and the Maritime University because with all these skills, you can work anywhere in the world. The oil business is a global business and you can work with these certificates anywhere in the world.”
