A destroyed refinery By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited( NNPCL) says it has destroyed 134 illegal refineries in the last few weeks. Also, the company said 63 illegal pipeline connections were uncovered during the the weeks . The corporation, In a visual report, stated that at about 2 am on Sunday, a joint team of security agents discovered a large wooden boat illicitly loading stolen crude oil from Barge AGS01 within the OML 18 operating area, noted intelligence report a large wooden wooden boat was caught receiving crude oil from the barge. According to the state-owned oil firm, while the barge was towed away with a tugboat in custody, five speedboats used in towing the large wooden boat to the illegal loading site were also detained and the particulars of the tugboats and barge used for the operation were reportedly seized for further investigation. It further said that two large boats, which involve
By Akinola Ajibade
Millions of residents of Iwaa, Oyo, Obajana, Apata and other communities, which host and border
Dangote Cement Plant in Kogi, North Central Region of Nigeria, were drowned in ecstacy, following the decision by the Federal Government to re- open the plant in the state.
The reason is because the development signals a return of economic activities in those areas, as owners of vehicles, travellers, traders, artisans, students, motorcyclists, applicants, among people, visit those areas for sustenance.
The plant, which boasts of 3,500,000 metric tonnes per annum was re- opened by President Muhammed Buhari, who incidentally stands as Chairman, National Security Council (NCS), an institution charged with the provision and maintenance of the nation's security matters.
Subsequently, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola had last week announced the plans by the government to reopen the plant, which was under locks and keys due to closure by the Kogi state government.
The state government/ law makers had accused the President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote of acquiring the parcel of land, where the plant seated illegal, an issue which the company has peacebly sorted out.
While reacting to the issue, the Secretary of the Association of Fresh Fish Dealers at the Obajana Market, Mrs Lola Adinu said that her members were filled with joy, when they heard the news that the Federal Government has directed necessary agencies to re-open the plans with immediate effect.
Similarly, Mallam Bala Dreba, who was a 50-year commercial motorcyclist plying the 43kilometre Obajana-Kogi- Kaba concrete road, said travellers from the Southern and the Northern parts of the country were apprehensive about the invasion of the plant, by the state government.
He said motorcyclists were about the development, as they brandish green leaves on their bikes in order to express their joy.
Another motorcyclist, Ibrahim Adamu( 45) said that commercial activities have returned to the areas where the plant is situated, following government's decision to reopen it.
A community leader, Pa Peter Dare said: " Torrents of jubilations followed the order to reopen the market. There was jubilation in my neighborhood because the lives of the residents depend on Dangote Cement Factory.
An Octogenarian, who does not want his name mentioned said he has been worried about how to pay the tuition fees of his two children in the university, following the decision by the Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU) to call off its over seven month strike actions.
He said he is at peace now because of business activities that have returned to Obajana, due to the re opening of the plant.
Also, the National Association of Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMMA), the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( LCCI) and Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( ACCI) said the government has restored confidence in the lives of people around the Cement Company, by reopen it.
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