The Federal Government has been tasked to stop the proliferation of illegal refineries in Nigeria, as they impact very negatively on the environment.
In its 2018 health, Safety and Environment, HSE conference report obtained by Vanguard, DPR stated: “Illegal artisanal refining is now a major source of pollution and needs to be tackled, through immediate multi-stakeholder’s engagement among operators, regulators, Government Security Forces, and community leadership.
“The Federal and State Governments need to address the underdevelopment and feeling of neglect in the Niger Delta as this remains a challenge to improved environmental stewardship. Some of the statutory fees currently paid in foreign currency should be considered for payment/imbursement in our local currency.
“While HSE practice in the upstream sector has achieved a commendable minimum standard over the years, the downstream sector requires sustained attention to improve HSE performance. Pursuing sustainability has been proven to be good business as it positively impacts financial performance.” Read more