Niger Delta promised modular refineries

ABUJA, August 4, 2017 – Construction of two modular refineries in each of the Niger Delta states will begin by Q4, the acting president of Nigeria announced on Thursday.

After meeting with the Pan Niger Delta Forum (Pandef), an umbrella group of leaders and traditional elders representing militants and other stakeholders in the region, acting President Yemi Osinbajo presented a series of measures to meet the demands of Niger Delta residents.

In addition to building the modular refineries, the government will legalise mini-refineries and sell them crude “at [a] reasonably considered price, as an incentive to stop the current practice whereby illegal refiners vandalise and steal the crude,” the acting president’s spokesman said in a statement.

Other pledges include the opening of the Maritime University at Okerenkoko for the 2017/18 academic year and an additional NGN 35 billion (USD 95 million) for an amnesty programme for ex-militants. The government also said it had revamped the Niger Delta Development Commission, set aside USD 1 billion to clean up Ogoniland from environmental damage caused by oil drilling and released funds to extend the East-West Road. The Petroleum Ministry is set to work with IOCs on relocating their headquarters to the region as well.

On Tuesday, Pandef had threatened to withdraw its co-operation saying insufficient action had been taken, but the group said it was satisfied with the outcome.

“The meeting was excellent. We met with Mr. Acting President and the discussion was very honest, truthful, forthright. We are very, very satisfied,” forum leader Edwin Clark told the media. “No more ultimatum. We agreed on many things.”

Prior to the meeting, a series of groups spoke out against Pandef. The Niger Delta Peoples Congress said the Presidency should negotiate directly with host communities, while several groups including the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators, Niger Delta Movement for Justice and Niger Delta Peoples Fighters said they were not represented by Pandef. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta and the Reformed Egbesu Assembly reportedly withdrew from the forum ahead of the meeting, though Clark claimed the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta had attended.

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