Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Air Force component of Operation Delta Safe, through airstrikes destroyed two illegal oil refining sites in Krakama and Temakiri, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, in continuation of efforts to stamp out the activities of crude oil thieves and oil pipeline vandals in the country.
This was disclosed by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Mr Edward Gabkwet, an Air Vice Marshal, saying the illegal oil refining sites were observed actively operating with Cotonou boats sighted nearby with the probable intent to illegally siphon crude oil from the sites.
Mr Gabkwet in the statement assured that efforts to rid the Niger Delta region of the activities of oil thieves by the Nigerian Airforce and other security agencies remain on course and will continue until total success was achieved.
The statement reads in part, “Both locations are barely 50 km Southwest of Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State.
“At both Krakrama and Temakiri, active illegal oil refining sites were observed with Cotonou Boats sighted nearby with the probable intent to illegally siphon crude oil from the sites.
“The two illegal sites, as well as the boats were subsequently struck, engulfed in flames, and destroyed. The armed reconnaissance was also extended to Abisse and Omoma, but only abandoned illegal refining sites were observed.”
Nigeria has unsuccessfully planned to boost its output to 1.8 million barrels but the country has not been able to attain its target due to security challenges like oil theft and pipeline vandalism as well as underinvestment.
Recently, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Atiku Bagudu said the federal government will be working with the sub-national governments to tackle crude theft, which is one of many drawbacks affecting the country from getting the much-needed revenue.
Oil, which contributed less than 5 per cent of the country’s GDP is responsible for more than 80 per cent of all Nigeria’s FX earnings.
