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
Favour Ajibade
Concessioning of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited to another party or institution would jeopardize plans to revive the firm and further return it to optimal performance, a group has said.
The group is made up of Non- Governmental Organisation (NGO) led by its National Coordinator, Mohammed Bougel Attach and African Citizens Development Foundation ( ACDF).
While the former is led by its National Coordinator, Mohammed Bougel Attach, the latter has Otunba Dele Ajayi-Smith as member.
In a statement signed by the duo and made available to News Mirror, the group is not in support to offer the multi-billion dollars Steel company to any other organization, adding that the idea is running contrarily to its objectives.
The group further said that its giving support to local investors to turn around the fortunes of the company and therefore must not be conceded to other institutions.
The coalition’s position was sequel to mixed reactions trailing the recent pronouncements by the Federal Government of Nigeria, to privatize the steel company.
This is coming on the heel of a protracted legal tussle that was put to rest recently.In particular, we view the recent comment by the Honourable Minister, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite, where he informed Nigerians of the ongoing privatization process involving a review of select firms bidding as investors in the company, as positive and in the right direction,the statement added.
Though details about the procurement of the firms and consultants for the processes are not made public yet, the group expresses optimism that government will follow due process by applying the direct sourcing or selective bidding processes.
“As civil society group monitoring the developments around the steel plant, we wish to reinstate our earlier support to the government on the ongoing privatization efforts, which in our opinion is to encourage local investors in the affairs of the company for effective and efficient management and productivity.
“As a point to note, one of the recommendations of the November 25, 2021 National Conference on Ajaokuta Steel Complex and President Muhammadu Buhari Industrialization Agenda, was for the government to stop the concessioning agreement and consider the privatization of the ASCL and the National Iron Ore Mining Company, NIOMCO, by encouraging local investors.
“The conference however frowned at any attempt to reconsider the issue of concessioning the two companies or to allow foreign investors, as the above two factors have been the bane of setbacks recorded over the last 30 years by the two establishments
“The CSO coalition used the opportunity once again to commend the federal government over the settlement of debt owed to a foreign firm that has now set ASCL and NIOMCO on a positive new course”
According to him, the policy was in line with Sections 19, Subsections A and B of the CBN Act 2007.
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