(Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, ABUJA)
The Federal Government has indicted the two sole manufacturers of urea blend of fertilizers in Nigeria, following the discovery that terrorist sect Boko Haram used nitrate-based fertilizers to develop the Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDS).
This comes on the heels of the arrest of five security operatives as well as other actors linked to incessant bombing of oil facilities in the Niger Delta, where it was discovered commercial explosives and accessories were used for the attacks. They were found to be culpable for diverting about 9000 kilograms of high explosives and 16,420 pieces of detonators for illegal use.
The government has further warned that any individual or company that operates outside the confines of legitimacy or legality will have itself to blame, adding that it will not listen to any influence peddler on behalf of any company that decides to sabotage national security.
The National Security Adviser, Brig. Gen. Babagana Mungono (rtd), who briefed the press with officials of the two fertilizer manufacturers – Notore Petrochemical and Indorama Eleme Petrochemical in attendance – read the riot act, expressed government’s displeasure at their activities, adding that they were also contributing to food shortage in the country.
He said that despite government’s effort through relevant authorities to grant them sole license as well as to facilitate necessary importation of raw materials and secure distribution networks to the two, they were discovered to have been exporting 71 per cent of the product to the detriment of the nation’s economy.
According to Mungono, ”At this point the good will showed by the government of this country will not be taken for granted. The fact that we are in a difficult and complicated situation in terms of our economy and security, does not mean that companies and individuals with vested interests will take the good will of this country for granted…”