A non-governmental organization known as Peace, Development, Security and Humanitarian Rights Association has advised President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC to use the N621.2Billion to build 97 modular Refineries across the Niger Delta region.
It said, building 97 modular refineries will create employments for the restive youths, boost the economy and enhance infrastructural development in the oil-rich region.
The Federal Executive Council had approved the N621.2Billion for NNPC to construct 1804.6 kilometres of Federal roads across the country.
Comrade Mike J.K Tiemo, President of the association, in an interview with newsmen on Sunday in Warri, Delta State, said that construction of roads was completely outside the statutory function of the NNPC Nig. Ltd.
”NNPC Nigeria Limited is indeed meddlesome for deviating to fixing or construction of roads, while the Federal Ministry of Works is there. NNPC Nigeria Limited should rather focus on its plethora of problems like, illegal bunkering, hike in petroleum products, unexplainable subsidy regime, scarcity of products, pipeline vandalism, hike in petroleum products, pollution in the Niger Delta region, insecurity, unemployment and other similar issues to grapple with”.
The group issued 30 days ultimatum to Federal Government to reverse the approval of N621.2Billion for NNPC to construct roads, adding that the N621.2Billion be converted to build 97 modular refineries to address the problems of scarcity of refined petroleum products, petrol, kerosene, diesel, cooking and industrial gas which are very essential for consumption to Nigerians.
”We are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Chief Timipre Sylva, the Group Managing Director of NNPC Nig. Ltd to impede and withdraw the action and direct NNPC to use the funds for the establishment of Ninety-seven (97) modular refineries in Niger Delta”.
“Let us not take wrong economic steps to form bad precedents that will prolong our stay in the quagmire we found ourselves today. It is indeed necessary to put an altercation into this kind of jaundice policies that will not yield any good result for the frustrated masses based on what experience have thought us”.
He continued “ Since the agenda of NNPC going to fix Federal roads at the expense of their statutory duties, is ill-motivated, we must stand firm as relevant stakeholders to articulate our position to ensure that the desire of the modern pharaoh in NNPC towers and Aso Rock is brought to nought”.
The group President warned that if these issues are not looked into after the expiration of the 30days stop notice the group will carry out a massive protest to shut down all oil facilities in the Niger Delta region.