The National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ambassador Dr Godknows Boladei Igali, has challenged the Federal Government to grant operating licences to qualified Niger Delta indigenes to run modular refineries in the region, insisting that such a move would promote inclusion, legality and national economic growth.
Igali made the call while appealing directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to approve the licences, arguing that allowing locals to refine crude oil legally would enable them to pay taxes to the Federal Government and contribute meaningfully to national development, in line with global best practices obtainable in the United States and other Western countries.
The PANDEF chairman spoke on Wednesday, December 17, in Warri while delivering the keynote address at the second edition of the Ijaw Publishers Forum (IPF) Ijaw Media Conference, held at the KFT Event Centre, Effurun.
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According to him, licensing modular refineries to indigenous operators would stimulate economic activities in the Niger Delta and foster a sense of ownership and inclusion among communities that host Nigeria’s crude oil and gas resources.
Igali decried what he described as the destruction of God-given resources under the guise of fighting illegal oil bunkering, noting that such actions often result in severe environmental pollution and degradation of host communities. He stressed that resources should be properly managed for the benefit of humanity rather than being wasted.
He noted that the Niger Delta is richly endowed with natural resources that serve as raw materials for various industries, including crude oil, gas, palm oil, rubber and cotton, adding that the region would continue to play a critical role in Nigeria’s development because of its vast natural wealth. He urged Niger Deltans to embrace sustainability and environmental protection to safeguard the region for present and future generations.
The PANDEF chairman also charged youths in the region to prioritise education and professional skill acquisition, noting that knowledge and skills remain key to innovation and societal transformation.
Igali commended the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, for his efforts at empowering Niger Delta youths, urging him to remain steadfast despite criticisms and to sustain overseas training and capacity-building initiatives.
He further appealed to stakeholders in the Niger Delta to sustain the prevailing peace in the region, stressing that meaningful development cannot thrive in an atmosphere of conflict.
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