From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Federal Government will flag-off the first set of modular refineries domiciled mostly in the Delta region, next month, the presidency has said.
Presidential media aide, Laolu Akande, made the disclosure when he briefed, alongside the presidential spokesmen, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu. He added that the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, will hold a ground breaking ceremony to signal the commencement of the first
set of miniature refineries next month.
The government had earlier in March highlighted plans to integrate, rather than eliminate, the illegal refineries after the State owned oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said it was losing an average of N2.2 billion yearly as a result of illegal refining.
Akande said the ground breaking will follow a meeting between the acting president and Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), early next week to discuss issues on the development of the Niger Delta.
President Muhammadu Buhari, had, in November last year, met with leaders of PANDEF, led by Chief Edwin Clark at the State House Abuja, to discuss issues relating to the peace and development of the region.