From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Association of Tank Farm Oil and Gas Marketers of Nigeria (ATOGMAN) has called on Federal Government to issue licences to indigenous investors to establish modular refineries as a means of reducing petroleum products storage, scarcity and stop economic sabotage.
The National Chairman Lawrence Kanu, stated this on the heels of reports making the rounds that 10 persons, including two students of the Petroleum Training Institute in Effurun, Uvwie council, who were on industrial attachment programme with the company, died as a result of the incident.
The Atogman boss said if licences were granted to indigenous investors to establish modular refineries, some of the incidents, as witnessed in Warri last week, would not occur.
“Let’s try and be productive instead of depending on importation of petroleum products as the nation is losing $1 billion monthly to illegal bunkering, oil theft and pipeline vandalisation.
While advising the Federal Government to rehabilitate the Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, he also advised government to remove petroleum subsidy.
“Petroleum subsidy,” he said, “is a scam, let’s do our best to stop it.”
Kanu commended the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ahmed Abubarka, for his efforts in fighting pipeline vandalisation and economic sabotage in the country.
He commiserated with the management and staff of Matrix Energy Limited on the explosion which occurred at its tank farm last Friday at Ifiekpo community, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta state.